STAT+: Colombia wins a key court ruling over a compulsory license issued for an HIV medicine

STAT PlusPharmalot Colombia wins a key court ruling over a compulsory license issued for an HIV medicine Consumer advocates called it an “historic” decision with regional implications in the battle over access to medicines Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Ed SilvermanMay 11, 2026 Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer Ed Silverman[email protected]Ed Silverman, a senior writer and Pharmalot columnist at STAT, has been covering the pharmaceutical industry for nearly three decades. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter. A South American court upheld the steps taken by the Colombian government when it issued a compulsory license two years ago for an HIV medicine, a move that confirmed the legal framework for using such an approach in the future. The Court of Justice of the Andean Community — a tribunal that settles trade, intellectual property, and labor disputes for Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru — also ruled that the Colombian government had properly justified the reasons for issuing a license and appropriately set an expiration date for its license.Advertisement “The court concluded that Colombia did not incur a breach of Andean regulations, since such measures are valid when there are reasons of public interest,” the health ministry said in a statement. “Colombia adequately complied with the obligation to determine the duration of the compulsory license” for the medicine, which is sold by ViiV Healthcare. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In HIV/AIDS, patents, Pharmaceuticals, Policy, public health, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Ed Silverman Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer Ed Silverman, a senior writer and Pharmalot columnist at STAT, has been covering the pharmaceutical industry for nearly three decades. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter. Newsletter From the lab to the medicine chest, these are the must-read drug industry updates of the day Recommended Pharmalot May 11, 2026 STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicare and Alzheimer’s drugs, estrogen patch shortages, and more Pharmalot May 8, 2026 STAT Plus: Capricor Therapeutics accuses Nippon Shinyaku of slow-walking plans on Duchenne drug Advertisement Pharmalot May 8, 2026 STAT Plus: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Pharmalot May 8, 2026 STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an FDA gender rule change, its program for one-day inspections, and more Pharmalot May 7, 2026 STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Sanofi and an FDA voucher, FDA rethinking a rejection, and more Subscriber Picks