Thailand Issues Deadline For Drug Price Slashes Or Compulsory Licenses (Thailand)
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Thailand's chief negotiator in price talks with foreign pharmaceuticals says Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis have until the end of this month to lower the costs for two drugs by more than 60 percent or face compulsory licenses. Dr. Siriwat Tiptaradol, chairman of the negotiating committee for compulsory licensing of patented drugs, said Sanofi-Aventis offered to trim its price by only 10 percent for Taxotere (docetaxel) for treating lung and breast cancer. Roche's OSI Pharms unit was expected to make a proposal for its Tarceva (erlotinib) before the end of December. Siriwat said Sanofi and Novartis, whose Femara (letrozole) is included in the 60 percent demand, have until the end of the month to respond to the demand or he will end negotiations and report to the Public Health minister, who will then consider compulsory licensing. Siriwat said a Novartis proposal to distribute its Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) leukemia drug for free to registered cancer patients was satisfactory. (Click here for more