In 1998 the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and thirty nine international pharmaceutical companies brought a lawsuit against the South African government for patent infringement regarding the manufacture of generic versions of life saving anti-Aids drugs. These companies were demanding millions of dollars for the right to manufacture their drugs. This, as South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of HIV and AIDS among its population. On 19 April 2001, these companies dropped their legal challenges to South Africa and other third world countries producing generic versions of their patented drugs. Many of the pharmaceutical companies did not stop there, as some donated their drugs, and others sold their drugs at cost price, following the lawsuit.
19 April 2001
Pharmaceutical companies drop a lawsuit against South Africa ending an international battle over patent rights and profit
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
How we know this
- 01Oakley, Ellwood F.(2004), Pandemics and panaceas: the World Trade Organization's efforts to balance pharmaceutical patents and access to AIDS drugs, American Business Law Journal, Vol. (unknown), No (Unknown) (online), available at: allbusiness.com [Accessed 12 April 2010]
- 02Chung.T.J, (2002), Shocking the Conscience of the World: International Norms and the Access to Aids treatment in South Africa, An essay presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Juris Docter Degree. (online), available at: leda.law.harvard.edu [Accessed 12 April 2010]
- 03Courting Rights: Case Studies in Litigating the Human Rights of People living with HIV (2006). (online), available at: data.unaids.org [Accessed 12 April 2010]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Pharmaceutical companies drop a lawsuit against South Africa ending an international battle over patent rights and profit. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013498
South African History Online (2011) 'Pharmaceutical companies drop a lawsuit against South Africa ending an international battle over patent rights and profit', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013498 (Accessed: 7 November 2026).
South African History Online, Pharmaceutical companies drop a lawsuit against South Africa ending an international battle over patent rights and profit [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013498, (accessed 7 November 2026).
"Pharmaceutical companies drop a lawsuit against South Africa ending an international battle over patent rights and profit." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013498. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Pharmaceutical companies drop a lawsuit against South Africa ending an international battle over patent rights and profit." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013498.
Also on 19 April
- 1960South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule
- 1963Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground
- 1968King Mswati III is born
- 1975Dr. Nic Diederichs is inaugurated as South Africa’s third State President
- 1979The IPI appoints Joel Mervis
- 1986Another death in police custody
- 1990President F.W. de Klerk announces the Group Areas Act will be repealed.
- 1994Kenyan mediates in SA election deadlock
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