The Chicago-based pharmaceutical company has cited Thailand's use of compulsory licences as a reason for taking the drastic measures. MSF notes that the use of compulsory licences to improve access to essential medicines is consistent with international laws, and is concerned that patients will bear the brunt of Abbott's harsh decision. Among the drugs the company is refusing to sell in Thailand is the new, heat-stable version lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed by Abbott as Kaletra. The drug is a vital component of treatment for people with HIV/Aids who no longer respond to their first set of medications. In the US, Abbott no longer sells the old version of the drug, which requires refrigeration. The company will continue to sell it in Thailand, though, where tropical temperatures make it highly impractical. "Our patients in Thailand, who still use the old version, have been waiting for this new version for a long time," said Dr David Wilson, of MSF in Thailand. "The drug was registered in the US in 2005, but cannot be used in Thailand and other countries where it is desperately needed. Refusing to sell it here is a betrayal to patients."

Since November 2006, Thailand has issued compulsory licences for three medicines, including the Aids drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir.  The director of the World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan, and the director of Unaids, Peter Piot have both spoken in favour of governments using all flexibilities of the World Trade Organisation's agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). MSF is calling on WHO, Unaids, governments, and other international bodies to denounce Abbott's move. Nearly one year ago, Abbott announced a price of US$500 per patient per year for least-developed countries. In August 2006, the company announced a price of US$ 2,200 per patient per year in low-income and low-middle income countries, such as Thailand, which far exceeds what people can afford. Today's standard three-in-one first line Aids treatment in developing countries is available for US$140 per patient per year. Abbott has failed to provide any information in response to MSF's repeated requests for a registration status update. MSF and other groups have consistently been calling upon the company to register the new version of the drug in developing countries.

"These prices exist only on paper, because Abbott has been dragging its feet about registering the product in many countries," said Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer, director of MSF's Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. "And now they have gone even further by withdrawing registration from Thailand, a tactic that effectively holds patients hostage."

Medicines Sans Frontieres

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