Apotex ships drug under Doha licence
24 September 2008
Eklavya Gupte, London
Canadian generic drugs company Apotex yesterday shipped its own combination of three patented drugs to Rwanda, in the first export of a drug produced under a compulsory licence following the Doha Declaration
But the shipment comes four years after Canada launched its Access to Medicines Regime, and the reaction has been far from positive.
Generic companies say the four-year delay, caused by excessive bureaucracy, means the first shipment may also be the last.
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network was relived that the shipment was finally sent but called on the new federal government to amend the Regime after the elections next month.
"The delivery of these medicines is way past due," said the Network's executive director Richard Elliott. "It's taken more than four years to get to this point. People are dying because they can't pay high prices for patented, brand-name drugs...
Only subscribers have complete access to Managing IP Magazine,
log in or
subscribe now.
Alternatively take a
free trial, giving you 48-hour access to Managing IP Magazine (some articles and surveys may be excluded).
Subscribe Now
This article is available to subscribers. Please click subscribe to read the rest of the article.
Subscribe
Take a free trial
Please take a free 48-hour trial to gain limited access. Some articles and surveys may be excluded.
Take a free trial