Monday, April 1, 2013

Drug maker loses India patent battle

(AP) ? A lawyer for healthcare activists says India's Supreme Court has rejected drug maker Novartis AG's right to patent a new version of a lifesaving cancer drug.

The landmark ruling Monday is a victory for India's $26 billion generic drug industry that provides cheap medicines to millions around the world.

The ruling is a precedent that prevents international pharmaceutical companies from obtaining fresh patents in India on updated versions of existing drugs.

Lawyer Anand Grover said such a ruling would help poor people get access to affordable, generic versions of lifesaving medicines.

Novartis has fought a legal battle in India since 2006 for a fresh patent for a leukemia drug.

India's patent office had rejected the company's patent application because it was not a new medicine.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-04-01-India-Patent%20Battle/id-4ca1e71f89c24f7488b61c4678e937ff

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