PITC to Pfizer: Help govt, withdraw case
SECRETARY Roberto M. Pagdanganan, chairman and president of the state-owned Philippine International Trading Corp., on Thursday dared Pfizer to withdraw the infringement case it filed against the PITC and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) if the firm is sincere in helping the government improve patients’ access to affordable medicine.
In a statement, Pagdanganan said that the government has been very consistent in respecting patent rights, adding that only products whose patents have expired are imported by the government through parallel drug importation.
The PITC imported only 80 samples of Norvasc (40 tablets of 5 mg and 40 tablets of 10 mg) from Pfizer in Pakistan in December 2005 to comply with the requirement for product registration preparatory for importation once Pfizer patent expires on June 13, 2007.
“Instead of harassing the PITC and the BFAD, Pfizer should explain to the people why Norvasc [amlodipine besylate] manufactured in the Philippines is priced at P44.75 per 5 mg and P74.57 for 10 mg while in Pakistan, where it is also manufactured by Pfizer, the prices are only P8.74 and P17.09, respectively,” Pagdanganan said.
Norvasc, a drug to control hypertension, is being used as maintenance medicine by thousands of Filipinos.
Pagdanganan said that the drug firm should stop “misinforming” the public that the PITC is importing its Norvasc from unauthorized sources in India and Pakistan because the truth is that what it has imported also came from Pfizer and the only difference is the price.
He said that the government has been telling Pfizer that it will not import Norvasc until after the expiration of its patent, and this was included in the affidavit submitted with the Makati Regional Trial Court where the infringement case against the PITC and BFAD is being heard.
“How can they claim that they are just protecting their patent when time and again the PITC made it clear that the government is committed to protect patent rights?” Pagdanganan asked.
Pfizer, in a statement, insisted that its suit is intended to protect, and not to extend, its patent.
“This is simply a matter of protecting, not extending, our patent for amlodipine besylate through its expiration date. Protecting intellectual property rights is critical to the research and development process and the safety of patients,” Pfizer said.
The patent infringement case filed March 1 aims to prevent PITC from marketing, distributing and selling Pfizer’s patented compound amlodipine besylate, marketed under the brand name Norvasc. -- Jonathan M. Hicap
In a statement, Pagdanganan said that the government has been very consistent in respecting patent rights, adding that only products whose patents have expired are imported by the government through parallel drug importation.
The PITC imported only 80 samples of Norvasc (40 tablets of 5 mg and 40 tablets of 10 mg) from Pfizer in Pakistan in December 2005 to comply with the requirement for product registration preparatory for importation once Pfizer patent expires on June 13, 2007.
“Instead of harassing the PITC and the BFAD, Pfizer should explain to the people why Norvasc [amlodipine besylate] manufactured in the Philippines is priced at P44.75 per 5 mg and P74.57 for 10 mg while in Pakistan, where it is also manufactured by Pfizer, the prices are only P8.74 and P17.09, respectively,” Pagdanganan said.
Norvasc, a drug to control hypertension, is being used as maintenance medicine by thousands of Filipinos.
Pagdanganan said that the drug firm should stop “misinforming” the public that the PITC is importing its Norvasc from unauthorized sources in India and Pakistan because the truth is that what it has imported also came from Pfizer and the only difference is the price.
He said that the government has been telling Pfizer that it will not import Norvasc until after the expiration of its patent, and this was included in the affidavit submitted with the Makati Regional Trial Court where the infringement case against the PITC and BFAD is being heard.
“How can they claim that they are just protecting their patent when time and again the PITC made it clear that the government is committed to protect patent rights?” Pagdanganan asked.
Pfizer, in a statement, insisted that its suit is intended to protect, and not to extend, its patent.
“This is simply a matter of protecting, not extending, our patent for amlodipine besylate through its expiration date. Protecting intellectual property rights is critical to the research and development process and the safety of patients,” Pfizer said.
The patent infringement case filed March 1 aims to prevent PITC from marketing, distributing and selling Pfizer’s patented compound amlodipine besylate, marketed under the brand name Norvasc. -- Jonathan M. Hicap
posted by Jonah | 2:56 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home