Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI91
2004-01-07 10:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 04:12:07 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM January 07, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 91 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ETRD, KIPR Captions: None Subject: JULPHAR AND VIAGRA PLUS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00091 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON:OJOHN CLEARED: CGD:MCARVER VZCZCADI340 RR RUEHC RUEHGV RUEHZM RUCNWTO RUCPDOC DE RUEHAD #0091 0071057 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071057Z JAN 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2944 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0541 RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000091
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR USPTO
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
GENEVA PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD TC
SUBJECT: Julphar and Viagra Plus
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000091
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR USPTO
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
GENEVA PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD TC
SUBJECT: Julphar and Viagra Plus
1. (SBU) Econchief Abu Dhabi and Econoff Dubai separately
met with Dr. Ahmed El Hakim, Pfizer's Director of External
Affairs and Health Policy for the Middle East Region (based
in Cairo),Zeydan Abuissa, Pfizer's General Manager in
Dubai, and Merck's Matthew Anderson (representing Pharma)
on January 3 and 4, 2004. According to El Hakim, Julphar
registered its version of "Viagra" with the Ministry of
Health, in violation of the UAEG's commitments to protect
pharmaceutical products.
2. (SBU) The issue is complicated by the fact that the USG
issued an improvement patent to Julphar for its version of
Viagra. Pfizer explained that Julphar used its U.S. patent
to convince the UAEG to register the drug here. According
to Abuissa, the improvement patent does not give Julphar
the right to market or manufacture, without the permission
of Pfizer, the product until Pfizer's patent expires.
3. (SBU) Pfizer briefed Econchief on its - thus far -
positive efforts with the UAEG. Pfizer's UAE lawyer has
prepared and sent a letter to the UAEG explaining the legal
case and the Pfizer/Pharma team is meeting with UAEG
officials. They met with Dr. Easa Al-Mansoori, the
director of the Drug Control Department at the Ministry of
health. According to Pfizer, the meeting went very well.
Based on the evidence that they presented, Al-Mansoori
agreed to delay Julphar's Marketing rights and
manufacturing rights at least until 2005. He further said
that he was willing to reopen the file and cancel Julphar's
manufacturing privileges if Pfizer could demonstrate that
Viagra was still under Patent protection. Subsequently,
Abuissa told Econchief that Phizer also had positive
meetings with the Ministry of Finance.
4. (SBU) Econchief advised Pfizer to work within the UAEG
system, especially since the initial results were positive.
They agreed and noted that this was the first problem since
the Embassy brokered Pharma-UAEG agreement in 2002. The
Pfizer officials agreed that a cooperative approach was
best and promised to coordinate with the Embassy.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR USPTO
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
GENEVA PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD TC
SUBJECT: Julphar and Viagra Plus
1. (SBU) Econchief Abu Dhabi and Econoff Dubai separately
met with Dr. Ahmed El Hakim, Pfizer's Director of External
Affairs and Health Policy for the Middle East Region (based
in Cairo),Zeydan Abuissa, Pfizer's General Manager in
Dubai, and Merck's Matthew Anderson (representing Pharma)
on January 3 and 4, 2004. According to El Hakim, Julphar
registered its version of "Viagra" with the Ministry of
Health, in violation of the UAEG's commitments to protect
pharmaceutical products.
2. (SBU) The issue is complicated by the fact that the USG
issued an improvement patent to Julphar for its version of
Viagra. Pfizer explained that Julphar used its U.S. patent
to convince the UAEG to register the drug here. According
to Abuissa, the improvement patent does not give Julphar
the right to market or manufacture, without the permission
of Pfizer, the product until Pfizer's patent expires.
3. (SBU) Pfizer briefed Econchief on its - thus far -
positive efforts with the UAEG. Pfizer's UAE lawyer has
prepared and sent a letter to the UAEG explaining the legal
case and the Pfizer/Pharma team is meeting with UAEG
officials. They met with Dr. Easa Al-Mansoori, the
director of the Drug Control Department at the Ministry of
health. According to Pfizer, the meeting went very well.
Based on the evidence that they presented, Al-Mansoori
agreed to delay Julphar's Marketing rights and
manufacturing rights at least until 2005. He further said
that he was willing to reopen the file and cancel Julphar's
manufacturing privileges if Pfizer could demonstrate that
Viagra was still under Patent protection. Subsequently,
Abuissa told Econchief that Phizer also had positive
meetings with the Ministry of Finance.
4. (SBU) Econchief advised Pfizer to work within the UAEG
system, especially since the initial results were positive.
They agreed and noted that this was the first problem since
the Embassy brokered Pharma-UAEG agreement in 2002. The
Pfizer officials agreed that a cooperative approach was
best and promised to coordinate with the Embassy.
WAHBA