Miles White and his team continue to play hardball with the Thai military government. Invited by the country’s FDA to discuss the compulsory licensing controversy, Abbott flatly refused. By contrast, Merck and Sanofi-Aventis are agreeing to a second round of meetings tomorrow.

Thai rulers recently issued licenses for generic verions of three AIDS and heart meds, and are offering the drugmakers a percentage of sales and a royalty fee. While Merck and Sanofi chat, Abbott is going the other route by threatening to withhold new meds from the country, a move prompting boycotts and bad publicity.

FDA secretary-general Siriwat Thiptaradol says Abbott indicated the country’s offer to negotiate a drug price and royalty fee was unacceptable. “The state has to be responsible for all patients suffering from HIV/AIDS and heart disease, while the private firms have to stick to the principle of profit making. Our standpoints are different. That’s why we have to discuss this to seek the most acceptable solution for both sides,” Siriwat tells The Bangkok Post.

Abbott isn’t sitting still, however. Although the drugmaker has yet to post anything about the spat on its web site, Abbott has convinced serveral US senators and congressman to write US Trade Rep Susan Schwab letters expressing concern that Thailand violated World Trade rules and threatens patent holders that employ many Americans.

Further reading…
The Bangkok Post;
Sanofi offer in Reuters;
The letter from the US Senators.[tags]Abbott Laboratories, Compulsory Licensing, Patents, Thailand[/tags]