KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should push for the use of a Compulsory Licence (CL) to obtain the generic version of Remdesivir, a potential drug to treat the Covid-19 virus, instead of giving in to demands of big pharmaceutical companies.
Charles Santiago (DAP - Klang) said the country had successfully done so in 2017 for the generic version of a Hepatitis C cure, Sofosbuvir, and the government should do the same again in the interest of all Malaysians.
"So, instead of looking for alternative options, we should do a repeat of 2017 and lobby hard for the use of CL to access Remdesivir.
"It (Malaysia) must join other countries to put up a fight against big pharmas to protect its citizens," he told a press conference at the Parliament here today.
According to Santiago, the cost of producing Remdesivir has been estimated to be less than a dollar a day but Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company, has set the price of Remdesivir at USD390 (RM1,662) per vial.
"This means the actual cost of a five-day course is around USD5 or RM22 at the most.
"Based on current treatment patterns, the vast majority of patients are expected to receive a five-day treatment course using six vials, which equates to USD2,350 or (almost) RM10,000 per patient," he said.
Thus, with a CL, Santiago said Malaysians would not have to pay such an expensive price to get access to Remdesivir.
Under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, Santiago said developing countries such as Malaysia were allowed to cite the "Government Use" provision to import a generic version of Remdesivir from producing countries.
"The government should keep pushing Gilead Sciences to import Remdesivir generic drugs at a reasonable price for the benefit of Malaysians in fighting Covid-19, especially for the poor.
"The lives of the people should be the priority of any government. No one should die because they can't pay for their treatment," he said.
In 2017, after pushing for a CL, Malaysia successfully reduced the price of Sofosbuvir from RM324,000 to RM1,248 by buying the generic version.