The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) yesterday called on the government to support the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) make its own favipiravir -- the antiviral medicine used as a treatment for Covid-19.
In its statement yesterday, the TCC said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Commerce Minister, the Public Health Minister and the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation should support the move to prevent shortages of the medicine amid rising demand for Covid-19 treatment and reduce dependence on imports from foreign countries.
The council said the drug has been generically produced by other countries, including China, since 2019.
While no patent claim was ever filed for favipiravir in Thailand, the Japanese pharmaceutical company Fujifilm-Toyama Chemical recently filed to patent a preparation of the drug with the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), it said.
The company is currently attempting to patent two preparations, in tablet and powder forms, which would make the drug easier to consume, the council said.
As the patent request contains no new innovation, the request should not be granted, the TCC said, adding that the company is "evergreening" the drug's patent -- that is, continuous extension of patent rights by making only minor changes to its original formula.
The strategy is aimed at blocking competition by other producers, the TCC said.
The TCC also said that the civil sector and academics had met the director-general of the DIP on Jan 26 to ask him to reject the patent request.
Thailand has been importing favipiravir, mostly from Japan, to treat Covid-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms since January of last year, at a cost of 125 baht per tablet. A Covid-19 patient has to take between 40-70 tablets throughout the treatment cycle, depending on their condition. It will cost a patient about 2,500-4,375 baht for the entire duration of the treatment, compared to 5,000-8,750 baht if imported versions are used, the TCC said.
Withoon Danwiboon, GPO's managing director told the Bangkok Post yesterday there are enough medicines to treat all Covid-19 patients.
"We are producing our own favipiravir and conducting safety and efficacy trials," he said. "We are also importing two million tablets next month, so there will be no shortages of medicines."
