AFP: US activists try to deliver coffin to Novartis over Indian patent case

[Guest guest]

http://news./s/afp/20070129/hl_afp/usindiapharmacompany_070129215623

Non-governmental groups tried to deliver a mini coffin to the Swiss pharmaceuticals giant to protest legal action aiming to overturn a ban on a drug patent application in India.(AFP/ J. s)

US activists try to deliver coffin to Novartis over Indian patent case

19 minutes ago , 29 January 2007

Non-governmental groups tried to deliver a mini coffin to Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis to protest legal action aiming to overturn a ban on a drug patent application in India.

The groups said India's ability to manufacture low cost generic versions of newer medicines would be threatened if Novartis won the suit.

Novartis's application for a patent for its Glivec cancer drug was rejected by the Indian patent office in January 2006, but the company is appealing that decision in the High Court.

A dozen activists from non-governmental groups attempted Monday to deliver a golden miniature coffin at a Novartis downtown office in Washington but were turned away, said Bryden of Global AIDS Alliance.

"The coffin was meant for Novartis chief executive Vasella," he said.

In front of the Novartis office, the activists slumped to the ground and shouted, "Patient rights, not patent rights" and "Novartis greed kills people in need; Drop the case now."

The gesture symbolized the "fatal consequence" of Novartis' action for people dependent on India for generic medications, Bryden said.

"People with HIV around the world depend on India for generic equivalents of antiretrovirals," the main treatment for HIV-AIDS, said Asia of Health GAP, a US-based AIDS and human rights activist group.

Generic Indian antiretrovirals are reportedly used for about half of all HIV treatment in poor countries.

Novartis said recently it would not give up the case, disputing the contention by activists that the legal action would adversely impact access to affordable medicines in the developing world.

The company added that even if Glivec were available in generic form in India, it would still be out of reach for most patients, with treatment costs at 4.5 times annual average income even as a generic.

Novartis said it currently provides Glivec for free to over 6,500 patients in India, adding that the number was equivalent to more than 99 percent of those who need it.