Thailand's new Health Minister will keep CLs

Thailand's new Public Health Minister, Chalerm Yubamrung, has pledged to maintain the government's policy of compulsory patent licensing, despite facing pressure to adopt a position that is more helpful for relations with the USA and European countries. Mr Chalerm responded to doubts about his experience by stating: " I was the one who proposed the law on intellectual property rights when working at the Justice Ministry."

The Bangkok Post, which has been a staunch advocate for the compulsory licensing policy (Marketletters passim), reported that the new Public Health Minister would be open to negotiations with drugmakers, as required under the provisions of the World Trade Organization's agreement on aspects of Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). These require the seizure of a patent to be based on a "public health emergency" and to be preceded by an attempt to achieve a settlement with the IPR holder.

Among the drugs targeted by the patent-grabbing policy are: France-based drug major Sanofi-Aventis' breast cancer agent Taxotere (docetaxel); and the antiretroviral drugs Aluvia (lopinavir/ritonavir) and Kaletra (lopinavir), both marketed by US drug major Abbott Laboratories. A third ARV, USA-based Merck & Co's Stocrin (efavirenz), was also targeted by the previous military-backed government (Marketletters passim).