On Monday, Thailand's health minister said his government is considering issuing more compulsory licenses on name-brand drugs, after earlier mentioning in particular drugs to treat AIDS and cancer. "We are considering imposing compulsory licenses on two more drugs," said Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla. Under World Trade Organization rules, countries can suspend patent protections on name-brand drugs during public health emergencies. Thailand already plans to import from Indian drug makers generic versions of the AIDS drugs Kaletra and efavirenz, a move opposed by U.S. and EU drug patent holders. Mongkol recently visited the United States to mend relations after an April U.S. trade report characterized Thailand's generic drug efforts as "further indications of a weakening of respect for patents." "We are not threatening the U.S. drug companies, but asking them to lower their prices," said Mongkol, who visited with senior representatives of the U.S.-based Merck, maker of efavirenz. Fewer than 10 percent of Thailand's HIV patients can afford name-brand Kaletra, the ministry says.

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