British Scientists "Invent Around" Protections on Patented Drug
7 Jan 2007
A pair of scientists in Great Britain reportedly has developed a means of producing a pharmaceutical used to treat Hepatitis C, which, despite containing modifications at the molecular level of its active constituents, would be equivalent to a brand-name pharmaceutical. If commercialized, the new drug would permit generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to make such a means of treating Hepatitis C dramatically more affordable--especially to those in impoverished nations.
The researchers--Sunil Shaunak of Imperial College, London, and Steve Brocchini of the London School of Pharmacy--claim to have altered the structure of pegylated interferon, a chemical constituent active in a drug used to treat hepatitis, and whose patent is held by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Roche Pharmaceuticals. On January 2, 2007, SciDev.Net reported on this news, which was covered in the The Guardian.
An India-based pharmaceutical manufacturer allegedly has come to an agreement whereby it would produce the new hepatitis medication, with clinical trials of it to be funded by the Indian government. Ultimately, the objective is to produce a version of Roche's drug that is considerably more affordable and, therefore, more accessible to patients in impoverished nations.
Source: SciDev.Net. 'New' drugs said to escape patent restrictions. January 2, 2007. [Online]
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