Brazil may break Aids drug patent

BBC

Brazil has threatened to break the patent on an anti-Aids drug in order to make a cheaper generic version.
Health Minister Humberto Costa said the price of the Kaletra drug was so high it represented a risk to public health.

The government has given US company Abbott Laboratories 10 days to either agree to lower its prices or allow generic copies.

Abbott said patients would lose out in the long run if Brazil went ahead with its threat.

If Abbott does not make an adequate offer, Brazil will start producing a generic drug at a state-run laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, Mr Costa said.