RxPG News XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!  

Medical Research Health Special Topics World
 
  Home
 
   Health
 Aging
 Asian Health
 Events
 Fitness
 Food & Nutrition
 Happiness
 Men's Health
 Mental Health
 Occupational Health
 Parenting
 Public Health
 Sleep Hygiene
 Women's Health
 
   Healthcare
 Africa
 Australia
 Canada Healthcare
 China Healthcare
 India Healthcare
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 UK
 USA
 World Healthcare
 
   Latest Research
 Aging
 Alternative Medicine
 Anaethesia
 Biochemistry
 Biotechnology
 Cancer
 Cardiology
 Clinical Trials
 Cytology
 Dental
 Dermatology
 Embryology
 Endocrinology
 ENT
 Environment
 Epidemiology
 Gastroenterology
 Genetics
 Gynaecology
 Haematology
 Immunology
 Infectious Diseases
 Medicine
 Metabolism
 Microbiology
 Musculoskeletal
 Nephrology
 Neurosciences
 Obstetrics
 Ophthalmology
 Orthopedics
 Paediatrics
 Pathology
 Pharmacology
 Physiology
 Physiotherapy
 Psychiatry
 Radiology
 Rheumatology
 Sports Medicine
 Surgery
 Toxicology
 Urology
 
 Medical News
 Awards & Prizes
 Epidemics
 Launch
 Opinion
 Professionals
 
   Special Topics
 Ethics
 Euthanasia
 Evolution
 Feature
 Odd Medical News
 Climate

Last Updated: May 23, 2007 - 12:55:26 PM
News Report
Medical News Channel

subscribe to Medical News newsletter
Medical News

   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Gilead's AIDS drug awaits patent in India
May 20, 2007 - 12:32:24 PM
'We have also planned a direct contact programme with NGOs and this open mode of communication will enable NGOs and Gilead to work on a common platform and fight the epidemic of AIDS together.'

Article options
 Email to a Friend
 Printer friendly version
 Medical News channel RSS
 More Medical News news
[RxPG] New Delhi, May 20 - American bio-pharmaceutical major Gilead, which has entered into generic licensing deals with 10 Indian pharma firms to distribute its HIV drug Viread, is hoping to get a patent in India soon.

'We have made considerable progress in implementing our access programme and licensed Indian pharmas to manufacture Viread which originally announced a pricing of $1 a day for the pill,' Gregg Alton, senior vice president and general counsel, Gilead Sciences, told IANS.

'After much discussion, Gilead now believes that a larger number of manufacturers will intensify competition and drive down prices even further,' said Alton whose team was in Delhi last week.

Now, Gilead's application for a patent is pending before the Indian Patent office as it believes that it has a right to protect its intellectual property.

Indian pharma major Cipla has filed a pre-grant opposition against the patent application for Viread before the patents office.

But Alton said: 'We believe that protecting the intellectual property of companies who engage in drug research and development is a critical part of the treatment access equation. Intellectual property protection, when used responsibly, encourages research and discovery of newer and more effective molecules.

'Gilead respects Cipla's right to oppose the issuance of a patent for Viread or any drug. But more importantly, we reaffirm our desire to work with Cipla whether or not a patent is issued,' said Alton.

Gilead has signed generic licensing deals with 10 Indian pharma majors to distribute Viread in India and 94 other resource-limited countries.

More than 5.1 million people are believed to be infected with HIV in India - the second highest incidence of the disease after South Africa.

According to Alton, Viread - is on its way to becoming the frontrunner drug across Europe for HIV/AIDS due to its low toxicity and resistance levels observed in patients.

The tablet-a-day dosage of the drug also helps in better regimen and compliance among the HIV/AIDS patients taking it.

Alton also pointed out that he expects generic versions of Gilead's anti-retrovirals to be available from several of its partners within the next few months.

When asked whether the drug would become unaffordable if Gilead was granted a patent for Viread in India, Alton assuaged fears voiced by critics and NGOs.

'The company plans to use this patent responsibly and has made its intention clear in the act of issuing non-exclusive voluntary licenses to Indian companies,' he said.

'We have also planned a direct contact programme with NGOs and this open mode of communication will enable NGOs and Gilead to work on a common platform and fight the epidemic of AIDS together.'

Currently, Gilead has signed agreements with Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Emcure Pharmaceuticals, FDC Ltd., Hetero Drugs, Matrix Laboratories Ltd., Medchem International, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., Shasun Chemicals & Drugs Ltd and Strides Arcolab Ltd.





Related Medical News News
Gogoi announces Rs.5 lakh each to HIV victims, four officials suspended
Woman's complain against hospital dismissed
Apollo Hospital offers senior citizens only OPD
New mental health bill bans electric shocks, gives right to treatment
Caution: Eating Goan frog legs could cause cancer
Assam town protests blood bank's HIV 'mistake'
'Collaboration key to addressing problems of disabled'
Mumbai gets special cancer centre for women
Assam blood bank accused of spreading HIV virus
Re-build society with safe blood transfusion: A.K. Walia

Subscribe to Medical News Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 Feedback
For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 
© All rights reserved 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us