August 23, 2001
The Brazilian government said on Tuesday that it will declare AIDS a "national emergency," triggering a law that will allow domestic production of a cheaper, generic version of a patented and costly AIDS drug, reports the Washington Post (A20). Health Minister Jose Serra said in a telephone interview from Brasilia that the government made the decision after its negotiations to lower the price of nelfinavir, and AIDS drug now made by Hoffman-La Roche Inc. and marketed in conjunction with the U.S.-base Pfizer, broke down two weeks ago. Companies that make AIDS drugs have been criticized by developing nations with high rates of AIDS for not making the price of treatment affordable.
Although India, South Africa and other nations are also developing generic AIDS drugs, Brazil is emerging as the world leader in the crusade to break down what Serra called "the AIDS monopolies " held by large, foreign pharmaceutical companies.
Serra said he had begun the process of issuing a license to produce nelfinavir, reports the New York Times (C6). If Brazil goes through with its threat to issue what is often called a compulsory license, it would be the first time that the government of a poor country has decided to allow generic copies of a brand-name drug to be made without the permission of the company that owns the patent.
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