Jan 29, 2007
Daniel Vasella, MD
CEO, Norvatis
Postfach CH-4002,
Basel, Switzerland
Re : Norvatis’ legal action in India on the Patent Law
Dear Sir
On behalf of the 27 Korean NGOs, I am writing to express our concerns regarding the legal proceedings that Norvatis initiated in India in May 2006, challenging the rejection of its patent application for imatinib mesylate (Gleevec/Glivec) as well as questioning the compliance of the Indian Patents Act with the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS).
This action contradicts the WTO Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health that states that “…the Agreement can and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO Members’ right to protect public health and, in particular, to promote access to medicines for all”
As you may know, more than half of the medicines currently used for AIDS treatment in developing countries come from India. India is such an important source for poor patients in the developing countries.
If India changes its patent laws to resemble in wealthy countries, India will no longer be able to supply the developing world with cheap essential medicines. And it means exactly death to thousands of hundreds patients.
We believe that People’s right to health and access to affordable medicine is the basic rights and should not be undermined by the interest of a certain company. And we also believe that corporation also should respect this fundamental rights of people and social accountability.
Therefore, we strongly urge you to drop the case which will drive so many patients to death. If you continue to proceed this case, your company will face a huge pressure from patients, doctors and NGOs around the world. We will continue to fight for patients, filing oppositions for life-saving drugs on behalf of patients. We very much hope that you will accept the contents of this letter in good faith and do your utmost to resolve this matters.
We will continue to monitor closely your future actions and situation until the matters we raised are resolved.
Again, we strongly urge you to stop threatening patients and India patent law.
Thank you for your attention.
Endorsed by ;
Consolidation for Medical Consumer
Democratic Labor Party
Health Right Network
Intellectual Property Left
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights (KFHR)
Association of Korea Doctors for Health Rights
Association of Physicians for Humanism
Korea Dentists Association for Health Society
Korea Health and Medical Workers Union
Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society
Korean Health & Medical Workers’ Union
Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet
Korean Social Insurance Union
Lesbian Counseling Center in South Korea
Nanuri+, HIV/AIDS Human Rights Advocacy Group of Korea
Korean Gay Men’s Human Rights Group
Public Pharmaceutical Center
Sarangbang, Group for Human Rights
Solidarity for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Human Rights of Korea
Patient Group Combination for Patient Right
Korea ankylosing Spondylitis
Korea Encephaloma Patient Group
Korea GIST Patient Group
Korea Leukemia Patient Group
Korea RCC Patient Group
People’s Solidarity for Social Progress
2007-01-28
