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Published on February 24, 2008

A cancer and HIV/Aids activist group is worried that an Indian pharmaceutical firm will refuse to supply life-saving breast and lung cancer drugs due to the new Cabinet's "unpredictable" compulsory licensing policy.

After a meeting with the Public Health Ministry's senior staff on Friday, Nimit Tienudom, director of the Aids Access Foundation, said he was informed by a participant that Dabur Co will not sign a contract with the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to export its generic version of injected breast and lung cancer drugs to Thailand. Neither will it take orders from Thailand.

New Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap has said he plans to review the January 4 imposition of compulsory licensing on four cancer drugs by his predecessor, Mongkol na Songkhla.

The four cancer drugs are docetaxel, produced by Sanofi-Aventis; erlotinib, manufactured by Roche; and lectrozole and imatinib, made by Novartis. These drugs are used to treat lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and leukaemia.

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

Nimit said even the health expert in Friday's meeting had suggested patients use other groups of drugs, such as the taxel group, which is equally effective as docetaxel in some respects. However, this drug produces more side effects and cannot stop the spread of tumour cells in the body.

"If the government can't reach an agreement with Dabur it will affect more than 20,000 breast and lung cancer patients across the country because most of them are poor and can't access the expensive licensed drugs," Nimit said.

Dr Wichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the ministry's compulsory licensing committee and president of the GPO, said he was told by GPO staff who contacted Dabur last Thursday that the deal is still under consideration.

He admitted that the plan to review compulsory licensing for the four cancer drugs was a factor in the decision-making of Dabur's executives but believes they will give a clear answer soon.

"If Dabur doesn't go with us, it's our duty to find a new generic drug manufacturer. But I'm sure that they will sign the contract with us to export docetaxel to Thailand," he said.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation