International group representing doctors and patient have launched a fresh challenge to the patent on Gilead Sciences’ hepatitis C drug Sofosbuvir at the European patent office in order to increase access to treatment. Sofosbuvir is sold by the US drugmaker as Sovaldi and is included in other hepatitis C medicine such as Harvoni and Epclusa. The drug is transforming fight against the liver- destroying viral disease by offering an effective cure, but Medecins Sans Frontieres and Medecins du Monde said its high cost was a serious barrier.
The campaigner argues the patent on drug, which costs tens of thousands of dollars for typical courses, is open to challenge because the science behind Sofosbuvir is not new. Gilead has a number of international operation outside its Californian headquarter and employs around 250 people in IDA at Cork. Gileads’ Ireland operation is responsible for manufacturing, quality control, packaging and distribution of company’s product in EU and other international locations. Previously, in 2015, Medecins du Monde had accused Gilead of abusing its patent on Sofosbuvir.
The Patent on Drug argument
If the latest patent challenge is successful, it could make cheaper generic versions of Sofosbuvir available in Europe.
Medecins Sans Frontieres and Medecins du Monde, who have been joined by 28 groups from across Europe, said key patents on Sofosbuvir had already been revoked in China and Ukraine, and decisions were pending in other countries, including Argentina, India, Brazil, Russia and Thailand.
Gilead said it was working to ensure patients had access to its hepatitis drugs and it had cured more people in the past two and a half years than were cured in the previous 20 years combined.
“This action has no immediate impact on Gilead’s patents or on our exclusive right to make and sell Sovaldi, Harvoni and Epclusa in the EU,” a Gilead spokeswoman said of the patent challenge.
