US Lawmakers Criticise Stance on Israeli Patent Negotations

A group of 19 US senators and representatives have reportedly signed a letter criticising the US Trade Representative's position on Israel's patent laws, currently the subject of fractious argument between ethical drugmakers and the country's government. The claims centre on allegations that if the country were to accede to the current US position, Israeli citizens would be unable to obtain treatments that are available in the US.

The cross-party group of lawmakers have also claimed that a potential agreement had been close last year, but had fallen through. Meanwhile, sources at leading generic drugmaker Teva have insisted that the legislators were mainly motivated by concern for greater world-wide access to affordable generic medicines, and recent declines in Israeli patent registrations of essential medicines produced by the multinational sector.