9.26.2006

A pharmaceutical co. of humanity

That I heard from Roche's press release from their media, Roche will transfer their technology to three companies in Africa without any charge to enable local production of HIV medicine. The technology transfer initiative is about the saquinavir, Roche’s 2nd line1 HIV medicine. It's the world first.

It's also a representative of humanity for a big pharma, I think, especially when I read through their patent and pricing policy in the world's Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It said that:

  • No patents for any of Roche medicines – across all disease areas – will be filed in the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as defined by the UN;
  • Roche will not file patents on new HIV/AIDS medicines in Least Developed Countries or sub-Saharan Africa;
  • Roche will not take action in these countries against the sale or manufacture of generic versions of antretroviral medicines;
  • Generic versions of such HIV medicines can therefore be produced in LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa without the need for a voluntary or compulsory licence;
  • Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors Invirase and Viracept available at no profit prices for direct supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa.
When would my company make a lot of money? to perform this charity.

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