Thailand faces anti-pharma activists over Abbott drug

Consumer activists are calling on Thailand's Administrative Court to investigate the decision by the Internal Trade Department not to take legal action against the USA-based health care major Abbott Laboratories for "alleged violations of trade laws," the Bangkok Post reports.

The US firm cancelled plans to introduce a heat-stable version of its protease inhibitor Aluvia/Kaletra (combination lopinavir/ritonavir) with Thailand's Food and Drug Administration. Abbott's decision was seen as retaliation against the country's authorities following the compulsory licensing of three HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular drug patents last year (Marketletter April 30, 2007).

Anti-pharma activists claim that Abbott's decision contravenes the Trade Competition Act. However, the Commerce Ministry's trade competition regulator ruled in late December 2007 that the US firm's actions were within the bounds of the law.