In just two weeks, Novartis will resume its attack on people's access to affordable generic medicines, by challenging A PART OF India's PATENT law that puts people above corporate profits in the name of public health. The Novartis vs. India case heads to the Supreme Court on 28 February. ADD YOUR VOICE and join Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in taking action before its too late – jump on Twitter and tell Novartis to STOP its attack against the pharmacy of the developing world!
MSF relies on affordable medicines produced in India to do its work -- for example, more than 80% of the HIV medicines we use to treat 170,000 people in 19 countries are generics produced in India, and we also rely on Indian generics to treat other diseases and conditions.
Novartis is attacking India's law because it's the reason why the company was denied a patent for a cancer drug it produces (imatinib mesylate, marketed as Gleevec). The patent was rejected because a part of India's PATENT law ('Section 3d') says only new and innovative drugs merit patenting, not just small adjustments to existing medicines. This rewards true innovation, while protecting market competition that keeps medicines affordable. If Novartis wins the case, India - known as the 'pharmacy of the developing world' - would be forced to start granting more patents FOR ALL MEDICINES, which would in turn block price-busting generic competition and have dire consequences for access to affordable medicines for people in developing countries. See more information here: http://www.msfaccess.org/novartis-drop-the-case
So, TAKE ACTION NOW!
Click on the link below and send a tweet to @Novartis telling them to STOP the attack on generic medicines and drop the case!
Tweet #STOPnovartis: http://www.msfaccess.org/STOPnovartis/
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This press release is reprinted by Alanna Shaikh out of an obscure sense of guilt. It does not represent the opinions of Alanna Shaikh or any of her employers.
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