Access to AIDS drugs is key

Re “Forget the patents on AIDS drugs,” Opinion, Oct. 9

Lara Santoro is misinformed when stating that “more than half of all antiretroviral drugs were researched entirely on U.S. government grants.” We have a public/private partnership between the U.S. National Institutes of Health and U.S. pharmaceutical industries. The majority of promising molecules are developed either in academic research centers or in the laboratories of the pharmaceutical industry. Other countries have different relationships with their pharmaceutical industries; some directly subsidize industry research and development, making international price comparisons difficult.

In any case, it would be useful to remember that “cheap” drugs are the direct result of expropriated intellectual property. Most of those drugs produced in India are qualified by a disclaimer on their safety and/or efficacy if used in the treatment of AIDS. Cheap, yes, but at what cost to patients?

Jeremiah Norris

Director, Center for Science in Public Policy

Hudson Institute

Washington

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Approximately 99% of the essential drugs in Africa are no longer protected by patents. The fact that many Africans fail to get access to these medicines underscores that breaking patents is not the panacea Santoro suggests. The real issue is how we can help these governments improve access to these essential medicines.

Countries such as Mexico and Jordan have strengthened patent protections in recent years even as drug prices in those countries have fallen. Defending intellectual property fuels our economic growth and spurs innovations that raise the quality of life around the globe.

If we forget this, patients will be the losers.

David Hirschmann

Senior vice president

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Washington