Price cut to halt Norvasc import plan

BusinessWorld – June 6, 2007

State-run Philippine International Trading Corp. will drop plans to import the anti-hypertension drug Norvasc (amlodipine besylate), provided the local licensee, Pfizer Philippines, cuts prices by half.

PITC officer-in-charge Teddie E. Rivera told BusinessWorld his office is awaiting the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ decision on whether to nullify United Kingdom-based Pfizer Ltd.’s patent on the drug prior to its expiration on June 13.

If the PITC petition filed last month is granted and Pfizer does not lower local prices of Norvasc, Mr. Rivera said the government would proceed with importation of the drug from Pakistan and India, where prices are lower. If Pfizer is able to lower its prices, "PITC will not import."

He said the state firm’s policy is to import only when the price of a local brand was considered "very high", adding that he does not approve of Pfizer’s program granting cardholders a 50% discount on the drugs.

Under the discount scheme, Pfizer offers Norvasc in five-milligram tablets at P22.50 from P45, and 10-mg tablets at P37.25 from P74.50.

"We are not comfortable with their offer because it’s a marketing scheme. My request is to lower the price outright by 50%, or better, to lower the price to that of Amvasc of Unilab (United Laboratories) at P17.50," Mr. Rivera said.

Pfizer Corporate Affairs head Cathy S. Ileto, however, noted that while both Norvasc and Amvasc (amlodipine camsylate) were for treating hypertension, both had different components and could not be priced the same.

She did not agree with the call for a price drop, saying the requirement of a "Sulit Card" before a discount is given ensures that the drug is taken properly.

PITC, in its petition, claims that a Norvasc ingredient, besylate salt, cannot be patented as it was not a new invention.

Also cited was a March 22 decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, nullifying Pfizer’s US patent for the drug. — Paul C. H. How