US Drug Company Accused Of Making HIV Meds Unaffordable In India

May 16, 2006

by The Associated Press: May 14, 2006 - 11:00 am ET

(New Delhi) Nearly 150 people demonstrated in New Delhi against U.S.

biotech company Gilead Sciences Inc., which is seeking to patent its

anti-HIV drug in India - a move that could halt local production of

the generic equivalent.

Gilead has applied for an Indian patent on the drug tenofovir, which

has been available in India as the generic tenofovir disoproxil

fumarate since last year.

Delhi Network of Positive People, along with another anti-AIDS

organization, the Indian Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS,

filed an application with the New Delhi Patent Office on Tuesday

opposing Gilead's request.

The company could not immediately be reached for comment, but on its

Web site, Gilead said it has been offering the drug at cost to

treatment programs in eligible developing countries.

Police detained 102 protesters but later allowed them to go home,

said Parath Singh, a police officer.

Nearly 5.21 million people are living with the AIDS virus in India _

the second highest figure in the world after South Africa

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