" We did not create drugs for Indians, but for those who can afford "

Question

The discussion with the Indian authorities got out of their boxes to the CEO of Bayer. At stake was the patent for its anticancer Nexavar, a drug from generation to treat liver and kidney cancers. " We did not create this medicine for Indians, but for Westerners who can afford it," jumped Bayer CEO Marijn Dekkers. And several media have picked up later.

A former colleague of Dekkers, John LaMattina, gave occasion to apologize later. In an article in Forbes, the former executive of Pfizer criticizes his words. And that gave rise to Dekkers explain. Bayer refers to those statements.

"I regret that so a quick response in the context of a discussion has come to light in a way that I did not intend. Can not be more contrary to what I want and what we do at Bayer, "said Dekkers. As a company, " We want to improve the health and quality of life of the people, regardless of their origin or income." "In any case, I was particularly frustrated by the decision of the Indian government does not protect us Nexavar patent was granted patent authority in the country. I am convinced of our ability to innovate and an open discussion at the meeting, while expressing my basic frustration, I should have clarified this. "

"In any case, I reaffirm that there is no reason for a country to weaken the protection of intellectual property. No new drugs, both people in developing countries like those in other more affluent suffer, "he adds. He concluded by mentioning that while generic manufacturers have a " crucial role ", " do not invest in research and produce new cures or treatments or for developing markets and developed."

The confrontation with India is just one of a large laboratory with a country that strictly enforces a patent law that leads them to reject the protection of some leading products (most cases because they do not allow modifications to the original patent as research progresses in medicine, for example looking different salts). It was what led to the conflict with other anticancer Novartis (Glivec). With this policy, the Indian government not only gets the patent lasts less (which requires laboratories to lower their prices to compete), but protects its thriving generic industry.