AbbVie will allow generic copies of its HIV pill in Israel after the government approved a license
After the Israeli government approved licensing for a generic copy of the Kaletra HIV pill to combat the coronavirus, AbbVie (ABBV) agreed to allow the country to purchase copycat versions of its medicine from suppliers in other countries, an unusual instance in which the threat of a compulsory license prompted a drug maker to widen access.
The move came after the Israeli Justice Ministry explained AbbVie was unable to supply enough of the pill and planned to import generic substitutes from countries where the patent had already expired, even though a study published this week showed no benefit in fighting Covid-19. The AbbVie patent in Israel reportedly expires in 2024. This is the first time the government allowed the use of a generic version of a patent-protected drug.
