Pharmaceutical Company Tasked On Patent Right On HIV, Hepatitis C

Stakeholders in pharmaceuticals on Tuesday demanded an open license for the generic production of HIV and hepatitis C drugs to allow low and middle income countries access to lifesaving drugs.

They made the call at a news briefing organised by AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF), in Abuja.

Dr Echey Ijezie, the Country Programme Director, AHF Nigeria, called on Gilead, a pharmaceutical company based in the United States to stop evergreening patent on HIV and AIDS drugs like Truvada.

According to Ijezie, the company has priced several of its HIV and hepatitis C drugs out of reach for many people by refusing to register some drugs in developing countries.

He added that Gilead had consistently blocked attempts to introduce cheaper generic versions of its medicines, which should benefit humanity.

Ijezie said Gilead, which was listed among the 15 largest biopharmaceutical firms in the world, puts profit before people’s lives, adding that in 2021, they generated over 27 billion dollars in revenue.

The Country Programme Director said the advocacy was a call by AHF on Gilead to firstly, “Stop evergreening patent on existing HIV and AIDS drugs like Truvada.

“Secondly, they should open the license for the generic production of the hepatitis C drug Harvoni to allow middle and low income countries have access without exception.

“Thirdly, they should license technology for the production of treatment for cryptococcal meningitis to generic manufacturers among others.’’

He said they are often funded by U.S. taxpayers but for their generosity, the public is rewarded with astronomical drug prices.

“For example a highly effective hepatitis C drug cost 1,000 dolars per pill and 12-week course of treatment has a retail price of over 90,000 dollars in the U.S.

“A generic version of the same drug cost only 4 dollars per pill in india, but according to Medecins Sans Frontieres, Gilead has excluded 50 middle income countries from access to the generic discounted price."

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV/AIDS (NINERELA), Amber Erinunwinhe said the group was standing strong on the advocacy in ensuring millions of people had access to affordable lifesaving drugs.

She said the lives of people must matter first before profiteering hence calling on Gilead to end its monopolistic behavior and ensure the license for generic production was made available.

“It is important that we look at the lives of people, the people you are producing this drugs for should be the number one before your profit.

“This is because if the lives are not there tomorrow I don’t think they would make such profit, and am happy the advocacy is not just Nigeria but a global one,’’ she said.

Advocacy Specialist, Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWAN) Micheal Edoh called on the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research to wake up to more research in producing local vaccines for the citizens.

He further lauded AHF for taking the lead in the advocacy by ensuring millions of people especially the community of persons living with HIV and AIDS have access to lifesaving medication.