By Jason Derry —

Abbott Laboratories has announced that it will no longer launch new medicines in Thailand.  In addition, Abbott has decided to withdraw its current applications for medicines in Thailand.  The decision is based on Thailand’s recent decision to issue compulsory licenses for Abbott’s AIDS drug Kaletra, and the failure to reach an agreement with the Thailand government regarding reduced pricing for Kaletra.  International pharmaceutical companies have openly criticized Thailand’s issuance of recent compulsory licenses for two drugs (Abbott’s Kaletra and Plavix made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis) without first consulting the companies that owned the drugs.  On the other side of the issue, activists have been praising Thailand’s actions while criticizing Abbott’s decision as socially irresponsible.

Additional information concerning the issue of compulsory licensing in Thailand can be found in the following Patent Docs reports:

• "More Compulsory Licensing in Thailand," February 1, 2007

• "Thailand Compulsory License Still in the News," December 18, 2006

• "Thailand Issues Compulsory License for AIDS Drug," December 6, 2006