News
Pfizer to sue Colombian labs for copying Viagra
Published: Mar 05, 2004 - 07:31 PM
BOGOTA, Colombia, March 3 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc (nyse: PFE - news - people) said on Wednesday it is preparing to file a lawsuit against 16 Colombian pharmaceutical makers for copying the blue color and diamond shape of its anti-impotence drug Viagra.
Colombian law allows local drug makers to manufacture a generic version of the patented drug Viagra, but Pfizer has decided to file a suit against the local firms for trying to take advantage of its marketing by copying the pill's physical presentation.
"Pfizer, using a register supplied by the Industry and Trade Superintendency, has moved in to ask the 16 laboratories to stop copying Viagra's intellectual property," said Alvaro Correa, the U.S. firm's legal representative, in Colombia.
He said the court cases, which will be filed in the Colombian courts, were ready but declined to identify the companies involved.
The head of the Colombian Pharmaceutical Industry Association, Alberto Bravo, said his organization would counter-sue Pfizer, which has frequently clashed in the courts with its Colombian rivals.
"They will have to answer for the problems they cause our members," he said.
Protecting pharmaceutical patents has been a constant source of disagreement with the United States, which is due shortly to begin talks about a bilateral trade agreement with Colombia.
Trying to placate Washington, Colombia in 2002 prohibited local drug manufacturers from copying pharmaceutical products until they had been available for a certain number of years on the local market.
Colombians bought 2.7 million tablets containing Viagra or local copies in 2003.
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
"Pfizer, using a register supplied by the Industry and Trade Superintendency, has moved in to ask the 16 laboratories to stop copying Viagra's intellectual property," said Alvaro Correa, the U.S. firm's legal representative, in Colombia.
He said the court cases, which will be filed in the Colombian courts, were ready but declined to identify the companies involved.
The head of the Colombian Pharmaceutical Industry Association, Alberto Bravo, said his organization would counter-sue Pfizer, which has frequently clashed in the courts with its Colombian rivals.
"They will have to answer for the problems they cause our members," he said.
Protecting pharmaceutical patents has been a constant source of disagreement with the United States, which is due shortly to begin talks about a bilateral trade agreement with Colombia.
Trying to placate Washington, Colombia in 2002 prohibited local drug manufacturers from copying pharmaceutical products until they had been available for a certain number of years on the local market.
Colombians bought 2.7 million tablets containing Viagra or local copies in 2003.
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
