Sir, Your article, "Patent or patient? How Washington uses trade deals to protect drugs" (August 22) resonated with our concerns regarding recent US free trade agreements (FTAs). The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has communicated to US negotiators and World Health Organisation officials the importance of establishing trade agreements that balance the interests of innovator companies and the public's interest in access to affordable medicine. Unfortunately, the FTAs developed over the past 18 months fail to achieve this balance.