Big Pharma

Question 1

patent

Answer 1

• guarantees a company the right to sell a product with no competition
• lasts 20 years
• rewards inventions and innovation
• but lacks competition, total control of pricing for 20 years. leads to problems like Epipen, sold by Mylon. Between 2006 and 2016, the price increased by 500%. Caused a shortage in Canada, where they were sold for $120.

Question 2

generic medicine

Answer 2

• made by company without the patent
• made with the same ingredients with the same effect on the body
• can only be sold after 20 years or if patent holder gives the rites

Question 3

TRIPS 1985

Answer 3

Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

-WTO members signed TRIPS

Question 4

Treatment Action Campaign

Answer 4

1998: South Africa for treatment access
- aimed to challenge pharmaceutical giants reluctant to drop prices of AIDS meds despite the fact that they had earned back research costs several times over
1997: “Medicines and Related Substances Act”
- allowed for greater use/importation of generics
- transparent prices
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and 40 multinational drug companies took South African government to court
- TAC was amicus curiae
- trial delayed for 3 years, many people died
- increasing public and global pressure forces PMA to drop the case in April 2001, setting precedent for other developing countires
- but the health minister did not make antiretroviral drugs available

Question 5

Defiance Campaign

Answer 5

Started by TAC against Patent abuse and AIDS profiteering
-Thailand didn’t initially sign TRIPS, which meant they could produce generics. People started importing generics
TAC asked Pfizer to drop the price of fluconzole
-they made treatment free for the most sick/rare disease, pills were still expensive for the average patient
2003: TAC files manslaughter charges against health minister and trade&industry minister
2003: July Constitutional court upheld constitutional right to prevent mother-child transmission
2003: Department of Health includes PMTCT programmes in budget, and accepted need for ARV
2004: April, public roll-out of treatment, resulting in decreased numbers of children born with HIV (which has ecoomic, family, health etc. implications)
South Africa now has the largest ARV programme globally

Question 6

Hazel Tau

Answer 6

2002: price of ARTs still high
- paying over R2000 per month
- TAC lodged complaint against Glaxo-Smith Kline/Boehringer Ingelheim
2003: commission found evidence supporting Tau, leading to negotiations between pharmaceutical companies, TAC, and AIDs Law Project, the first time there were actual negotiations with the government
2003: Glaxo Smith Kline and Boehringer allowed for generics to be sold