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Some good news for the fight against AIDS, Gilead has just decided to release 4 AIDS and Hepatitis drugs to the international “Medicines Patent Pool.” What does this means? For pharmaceutical companies, it is a very long and very expensive road to finding a formula for a drug that will 1) prove consistently effective in trial studies and 2) will be approved for release by the FDA. With all of the money for research and development that goes into simply creating something that works and is legal, the one way pharma makes its money back is by patenting the “recipe” and getting exclusive rights to produce and profit from said drug. Why is contributing to the Medicines Patent Pool a great step for the people living with AIDS? Well several reasons.
1) When a company holds a patent on a drug, they also hold the power of pricing. Think gas is expensive? Imagine not having 3 options to choose from on the same corner. By contributing to the patent pool, other producers will be allowed rights to make and distribute necessary AIDS medicines at a lower cost and to a broader group of people.
2) While pharmaceutical companies often get label as the bad guy *insert favorite pharma diss here*, I venture to assume that most of the profit “greed” comes from the extreme competitiveness of the industry. I mean seriously, have you ever seen a good old fashion pharma drug rep show down? Sh*t gets real son… any who, with a major contender like Gilead releasing 4 of their drugs, it helps set a precedent for others to follow.
3) Access to HIV/AIDS medications and drug adherence is the major factor for the population of people living with HIV/AIDS. While you hear “positive people are living full lives nowadays” this is mostly applicable when they actually have access to and can AFFORD the necessary medicines. We have seen ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) waiting lists grow across the country due to the alleged “lack of funding” so for companies to step up in this way it gives a helping hand where federal funding has not.
Now there is still criticism regarding benefits to the pharmaceutical companies participating in the Medicine Patent Pool as well as the limitations in the contracts, sometimes you have to celebrate you victories, big or backhanded.
Well, that’s all I have to say about that folks! How are you feeling about the Medicine Patent Pool? Optimistic or waiting to see the rubber meet the road?
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