Patents on therapeutics in developing countries: the challenges ahead

Infectious diseases affect those who have limited access to care, but these diseases are no longer a cause of concern for the developing countries alone. Some exotic infections have already started appearing in the developed world, courtesy the AIDS epidemic. The possible misuse of these infectious agents for bioterrorism has further compounded the problem. These threats have forced developed countries to stand up and take notice of these neglected diseases. The collaborative efforts of the international agencies have started yielding some results, but there is still a long way to go. The biggest perceived threat is the patents on therapeutics for these diseases. This article has tried to access the global burden of infectious disease, the threat of patents on therapeutics as perceived by the developing countries and the ongoing international efforts in this regard. The authors also suggest some measures that may help overcome this threat of patents on therapeutics for neglected infectious disease.