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Published on February 1, 2008

The targeted drugs are docetaxel, produced by Sanofi-Aventis; erlotinib, manufactured by Roche; and lectrozole, made by Novartis.

Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol na Songkla yesterday said the ministry had initially decided to also impose licensing on imatinib. But the manufacturer, Novartis, proposed that the drug be made part of the national healthcare scheme, which covers 48 million registered patients who earn not more than Bt1.7 million annually.

The Health Ministry was satisfied with this proposal, he said.

The patients will become part of the GLIVEC International Patient Assistance Programme, or GIPAP, which provides free drugs to patient suffering from chronic myeloid leukaemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. The project is managed by the Max Foundation.

"If Novartis breaks its promise to provide free cancer drugs, we will immediately impose compulsory licensing on imatinib and import the generic version from India to save our patients' lives," Mongkol said.

Imatinib is used to treat leukaemia and gastric cancer.

The Health Ministry began negotiating the price reductions in October, and though the pharmaceutical companies have made some offers, they have not been very satisfactory.

"If they bring their prices lower than the price of generic versions, we will withdraw the enforcement of compulsory licensing," Mongkol said.

Imatinib costs Bt900 per tablet, while the generic version goes for about Bt50 to Bt70. Docetaxel costs Bt26,500 per 89mg injection, but the generic version costs Bt4,000. Erlotinib costs between Bt2,800 and Bt3,000 per tablet, but the generic version is priced between Bt275 and Bt735. Letrozole costs Bt230 per tablet, while the generic pill is priced between Bt7 and Bt10.

Dr Wichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the committee that issues compulsory licensing, said the health ministry was planning to add imatinib to the new national drug list. This means that physicians nationwide will have to prescribe this drug to cancer patients registered under the national healthcare scheme.

Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Siriwat Tiptaradol said the agency will collaborate with the National Health Security Office to set up a system that gives patients access to imatinib as soon as possible.

Last year, the government succeeded in imposing compulsory licensing on three drugs - efavirenz, kaletra and plavix. The first two are for HIV/Aids and are manufactured by Merck's MSD (Thailand) and Abbott Laboratories respectively. The third drug, used to treat heart disease, is made by Sanofi-Aventis.

 Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation