Drug patent turned down

A patent application for an antiretroviral drug by a US pharmaceutical company has been rejected in a move that could affect treatment for HIV in the developing world.

The Brazilian Patent Office turned down a bid by Gilead to have sole ownership of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) because it lacked inventiveness.

It was the first time an application for an antiretroviral patent had been rejected in the country following opposition to the patent from non-government organisations.

Gilead currently charges $1,387 (£778) for TDF in Brazil whereas companies in India produce the World Health Organization-licensed medication for $158.

The decision means companies from all over the world can continue manufacturing TDF.

By the end of the year, an estimated 37,000 people are expected to need treatment for Aids in Brazil.

This decision will ensure Brazil's universal Aids treatment programme is maintained for all.

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According to International HIV/Aids Alliance, Brazil is home to the largest number of people living with HIV in the region at 620,000 people.