MSF response to Roche’s statement on access to tocilizumab

Geneva, 9 July 2021

Following the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending tocilizumabfor severely and critically ill COVID-19 patients, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders issued a statementhighlighting that the drug remains inaccessible and unaffordable for the majority of the world.  Roche has just announcedthat Roche and Chugai (joint holders of tocilizumab-related patents) will not be asserting any patents related to tocilizumab for treatment of COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries during this current pandemic, to provide legal certainty for ‘biologic’ manufacturers that could produce alternative versions.

Leena Menghaney, Global IP advisor, MSF Access Campaign:

“While we acknowledge Roche’s announcement, its non-assertion statement as currently announced is insufficient. The basic patent on tocilizumab held by Roche has expired but the Swiss corporation has continued to pursue a patent extending or “evergreening” strategy to seek additional patents, and holds the de-facto monopoly in the global market. As we continue to witness surges in COVID-19 cases across the globe, and against the backdrop of 4 million deaths, we call on Roche to take the following actions to ensure increased access to tocilizumab: 

  • Roche’s non assertation of patents should be applicable to all countries – and not just to low- and middle-income countries - so that wherever biological production capacity exists, alternative producers can speed up development and production of biosimilars;
  • Roche should disclose the full details of all remaining secondary patents and any pending patent applications and withdraw them to provide full freedom to operate and legal certainty for biosimilar producers; and 
  • Ensure quick and independent production and supply of tocilizumab by additional manufacturers, Roche should opt for open, transparent and unrestricted transfer of master cell lines, share its regulatory dossier and any other manufacturing information, which is critical for immediate scale-up of production by other manufacturers.
  • Roche must also lower the price of this drug to make it affordable and accessible for everyone who needs it.”  

 

 

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Shailly Gupta

+41- 79 203 13 02 

 

 

 



 

 

 

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About Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Access Campaign

In 1999, in the wake of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, MSF launched the Access Campaign. Its purpose has been to push for access to, and the development of life-saving and life prolonging medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines for patients in MSF programmes and beyond.

Contact

Route de Ferney 140 P.O. Box 1224 CH-1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland

+41 79 203 13 02

[email protected]

www.msfaccess.org