Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | MSF challenges Pfizer’s India patent for pneumonia vaccine

MSF challenges Pfizer’s India patent for pneumonia vaccine

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Mar 13, 2016   modified Modified on Mar 13, 2016
-AP

New Delhi: Doctors Without Borders has challenged Pfizer’s application for an Indian patent for its pneumonia vaccine so cheaper versions can be available to children in poor countries and to humanitarian organisations.

The medical aid group, also known as Medicins Sans Frontieres, said in a statement late on Friday that it was challenging Pfizer’s patent application to allow Indian manufacturers to make affordable versions of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

If Pfizer is granted a patent for the vaccine, Indian drug companies would not be able to make cheaper generic versions.

“The pneumonia vaccine is the world’s best-selling vaccine, and last year alone, Pfizer brought in more than $6 billion in sales just for this product,” Dr Manica Balasegaram, executive director of MSF’s Access Campaign, said in the statement.

“Meanwhile, many developing countries, where millions of children risk getting pneumonia, simply can’t afford it.”

“To make sure children everywhere can be protected from deadly pneumonia, other companies need to enter the market to supply this vaccine for a much lower price than what Pfizer charges,” Balasegaram said.

Doctors Without Borders said its decision to oppose New-York based Pfizer’s patent application comes after “years of fruitless negotiations” to get the company to reduce the price of the drug for use in humanitarian projects.

Pfizer India said on Saturday that the company had not yet received a copy of the patent opposition and that it was in talks with health officials to try to assess local needs.

Pneumonia kills almost a million children each year.

“As doctors who have watched far too many children die of pneumonia, we’re not going to back down until we know that all countries can afford this vaccine,” Balasegaram said.

Hindustan Times, 12 March, 2016, http://www.hindustantimes.com/business/msf-challenges-pfizer-s-india-patent-for-pneumonia-vaccine/story-LlXQhDGPusw6AempvnxDhP.html


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close