Five senators, whose states include numerous drugmakers and biotechs, wrote a letter March 20 to US Trade Rep Susan Schwab, complaining about the recent action by the Thai government to issue compulsory licenses for two AIDS drugs and a heart med.

The move is the latest flash point in the struggle between big pharma and developing nations over access to medicines and patent rights. Abbott, whose heart drug is part of the controversy, is sparking calls for boycotts by deciding not to sell new meds to Thailand if the government doesn’t back down.

The letter was written by Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, home to Pfizer’s huge research facilities; Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, who rep New Jersey and its many big pharma headquarters; Dianne Feinstein of California, where numerous biotechs are based, and Tom Carper of Delaware, where DuPont, a big patent holder is headquartered.

They ask Schwab to ”encourage the Royal Thai government to consult with our innovative companies to achieve a positive outcome” to improve patient health and protect patents. Here’s an excerpt:

*We do not believe that World Trade Organization members intended (trade) rules to be used to allow compulsory licenses on any medicine whatsoever as a matter of standard government policy, especially without any meaningful prior consultation with the patent holders.”

“We believe such policies could also have harmful consequences for patients. In bypassing the current legal suppliers of these products. Thailand is taking risks with both the safety and dependability of the drug supply. Moreover, Thailand’s actions raise grave concerns about the investment climate in Thailand.”

The letter to the USTR from the senators.[tags]Bob Menendez, Compulsory Licensing, Dianne Feinstein, Frank Lautenberg, Joe Lieberman, Patents, Thailand, Tom Carper, US Trade Rep Susan Schwab[/tags]