I-MAK: saving lives by curing the patent system

19-10-2018

I-MAK: saving lives by curing the patent system

Non-profit organisation I-MAK is waging a global challenge against what it sees as invalid pharmaceutical patents, with access to life-saving drugs its main priority. LSIPR speaks to co-founder Tahir Amin to find out more.

More than 85% of Americans diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C will not receive treatment this year. It’s the same story the world over—the UK is rationing these drugs and France also has problems. These are the claims of Tahir Amin, co-founder of non-profit group the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK).

Why are people not receiving the life-saving treatments they need? Partly because of skyrocketing drug prices and anti-competitive strategies by big pharma, claims Amin.

The non-profit foundation is determined to increase global access to affordable life-saving medication and, to do so, I-MAK plans to try to improve the patent system.


I-MAK, Tahir Amin, sofosvbuvir, access to medicine, generic competition, chronic hepatitis , Gilead, public interest, patent filings, drug pricing, invalid

LSIPR