TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN PRESS STATEMENT FEBRUARY 8 2001

CIPLA OFFERS HIV/AIDS ANTI-RETROVIRALS AT R400.00 PER MONTH!

MINISTER ERWIN: SUPPORT COMPUSLORY LICENCES FOR ANTI-RETROVIRALS NOW!

JOIN THE TAC MARCH FOR AFFORDABLE HIV/AIDS MEDICINES!

The Indian generic medicines producer, Cipla has offered all governments in
poor countries triple HIV anti-retroviral therapy at R400.00 per month
(US$600.00 per year). It has also offered Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
these drugs at R280.00 per month. These drugs include Nevirapine,
Stavudine/D4T and Lamivudine/3TC.

TAC welcomes the unilateral and significant price reduction by CIPLA. Now,
the only major obstacles in the way of access to HIV/AIDS medicines are the
patents of drug companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Glaxo-SmithKline and
Boehringer Ingelheim. TAC calls on the government to use and produce generic
anti-retrovirals. The government will have to apply for compulsory licences
to accept the offers from Brazil and CIPLA.

Minister Alec Erwin and the Department of Trade and Industry must issue a
statement of intent to apply for compulsory licences. Section 78 of the
Patents Act (NO. 57 OF 1978) gives the Minister of Trade and Industry the
power to issue a compulsory licence for generic anti-retrovirals. Section 58
reads as follows: "Acquisition of invention or patent by State.-The Minister
(of Trade and Industry) may, on behalf of the State, acquire, on such terms
and conditions as may be agreed upon, any invention or patent."

There can be no question that Minister Erwin has the power to negotiate
licences for all HIV/AIDS drugs. Such a licence can be used to allow a range
of generic producers to begin local generic production and, where necessary,
to import these drugs. TAC calls on the Minister Erwin to fulfill his
constitutional obligations without delay.

On Monday, 12th February 2001 TAC will host an inter-faith service and march
on parliament against drug company profiteering and to support the Medicines
and Related Substances Control Amendment Act 90 of  1997. Only a legal
framework controlling profiteering will ensure affordable medicines on a
sustainable basis. The majority of multinational drug companies have taken
the government to court over this legislation. Every person in South Africa
will benefit from cheaper medicines should this legislation pass.

We ask everyone to join the March and to join TAC!