Thailand Pushed To Deny Foreign Patents For Flu Drugs From Thai Herbs
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Thailand's Intellectual Property Department is being pressured by a biodiversity group to avoid granting foreign companies patents for flu drugs made from the nation's herbal plants. At issue is the fah talai jon plant used by practitioners of traditional medicine to treat sore throat and diarrhea symptoms of the flu. The Biothai organization said that granting a patent on the chemical extract of the plant should be avoided. The IPD said it has received several applications from foreign companies to patent certain developments involving the nation's herbal plants. (Click here for more
Thailand's Intellectual Property Department is being pressured by a biodiversity group to avoid granting foreign companies patents for flu drugs made from the nation's herbal plants. At issue is the fah talai jon plant used by practitioners of traditional medicine to treat sore throat and diarrhea symptoms of the flu. The Biothai organization said that granting a patent on the chemical extract of the plant should be avoided. The IPD said it has received several applications from foreign companies to patent certain developments involving the nation's herbal plants. (Click here for more) "Warning On Patents For Flu Drugs" - Bangkok Post (Thailand) (7/28/09) |