Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

GILD—UK admits generic Truvada though back door:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/englands-nhs-turns-to-clinical-trial-to-make-cheaper-hiv-drug-1502441145

By rolling out the treatment under the banner of a clinical trial, the [National Health Service] can use a low-cost generic version of the drug [Truvada] without infringing patents because drugs used in clinical trials are exempt from patent litigation under English law.

…Under the trial, the NHS will make a generic form of the drug, made by rival firm Mylan NV, available for at least 10,000 people. The generic isn’t otherwise directly available in the U.K.

The move could also pave the way for other European countries to follow suit.

“The unusual length, extent and nature of this ‘implementation trial’ may well set significant precedent for the unencumbered use of generics on the NHS,” said Siva Thambisetty, an Associate Professor in Intellectual Property Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

…The NHS declined to comment on commercial terms of the arrangement citing confidentiality.

See #msg-106583794 for related discussion.