Patents, Innovation and Public Health: Brazilian Public-Sector Laboratories' Experience in Copying AIDS Drugs

Maurice Cassier () and Marilena Correa
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Maurice Cassier: CERMES - UMR 8169 / U750 - CERMES - Centre de recherche Médecine, Science, Santé Société - UP11 - Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - INSERM - Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Marilena Correa: UERJ - Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro [Brasil] = Rio de Janeiro State University [Brazil] = Université d'État de Rio de Janeiro [Brésil]

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Abstract: The Brazilian experience in producing HIV/AIDS drugs is based on the lawful copying of medicines patented abroad, on a health policy of universal access to antiretrovirals (ARV), and on technological learning, especially in public-sector laboratories through reverse engineering. The information contained in patents has proved to be incomplete and the chemical standards of these molecules are not available in the pharmacopoeias. Chemists at the Rio health ministry's laboratory have had to partially rediscover the qualitative and quan- titative composition of these drugs. They have thus acquired knowledge on the synthesis processes of the active principles of drugs, which they are now able to transfer to pharmaceutical companies. Apart from copying existing drugs, the laboratory also develops research both in-house and in partnership with universities, to create new molecules. The learning process initiated through copying is thus combined with a research policy.

Keywords: anti-AIDS drugs; Brazil; Generics producers; patents; reverse engineering; technological learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-02162784
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published in Economics of AIDS and Access to HIV/AIDS Care in Developing Countries. Issues and Challenge,, 2003

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