Supreme Court denial of Glivec patent clarifies limited intellectual property protection and discourages future innovation in India
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Novartis International AG /
Supreme Court denial of Glivec patent clarifies limited intellectual property
protection and discourages future innovation in India
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* Patent denied despite global recognition of Glivec as a life-saving,
breakthrough drug for certain forms of cancer, with patents granted in
nearly 40 countries
* Novartis has never been granted an original patent for Glivec in India
* More than 9 out of 10 patients currently taking Glivec in India will
continue to receive drug free of charge through Novartis Oncology Access
programs
* Patents are the foundation of innovative drug discovery and essential to
advancing medical science and treatment of patients
Mumbai, India, April 1, 2013 - A decision issued today by the Indian Supreme
Court regarding the Novartis breakthrough medicine Glivec(®) (imatinib mesylate)
provides clarification on Indian patent law and discourages innovative drug
discovery essential to advancing medical science for patients.
Novartis has never been granted an original patent for Glivec in India. The
Court denied an appeal challenging the rejection of a patent for Glivec, a life-
saving medicine for certain forms of cancer, patented in nearly 40 countries
including China, Russia, and Taiwan. Novartis filed a Special Leave Petition
with the Indian Supreme Court in 2009 challenging the denial of the Glivec beta
crystal form patent on two grounds, based on Sections 3(d) and 3(b) of the
Indian patent law. In addition to seeking a patent for Glivec, the company filed
the case to help clarify these unique aspects of the patent law.
"Novartis has never been granted an original patent for Glivec in India. We
strongly believe that original innovation should be recognized in patents to
encourage investment in medical innovation especially for unmet medical needs,"
said Ranjit Shahani, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Novartis India
Limited. "We brought this case because we strongly believe patents safeguard
innovation and encourage medical progress, particularly for unmet medical needs.
This ruling is a setback for patients that will hinder medical progress for
diseases without effective treatment options."
The primary concern of this case was with India's growing non-recognition of
intellectual property rights that sustain research and development for
innovative medicines. As a leader in both innovative and generic medicines,
Novartis strongly supports the contribution of generics to improving public
health once drug patents expire.
Novartis remains committed to patients and access to medicine. Through its full
donation programs, Novartis provides Glivec free of charge to 95% of patients
prescribed the drug in India, currently more than 16,000 patients. The remaining
5% of patients are either reimbursed, insured, or participate in a very generous
co-pay program. Since Novartis began its first donation program in 2002, the
company has provided more than 1.7 billion dollars' worth of Glivec to patients
in India.
Engaging with society to improve access to healthcare is integral to the way
Novartis operates. In 2012, our contributions and programs in this area were
valued at USD 2 billion, providing medicine to more than 100 million patients,
and health education, infrastructure development and other programs to another
7.2 million people worldwide.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving
needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis
offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines,
eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and
diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the
only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2012, the Group
achieved net sales of USD 56.7 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted
to approximately USD 9.3 billion (USD 9.1 billion excluding impairment and
amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 128,000
full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around
the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow (at)Novartis at
http://twitter.com/novartis.
# # #
Novartis Media Relations
Central media line : +41 61 324 2200
Eric Althoff Svetlana Pinto
Novartis Global Media Relations Novartis India Media Relations
+41 61 324 7999 (direct) +91 22 2495 1074 (direct)
+41 79 593 4202 (mobile) +91 98210 54884 (mobile)
eric.althoff(at)novartis.com svetlana.pinto(at)novartis.com
e-mail: media.relations(at)novartis.com
For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/Novartis
For questions about the site or required registration, please contact:
journalisthelp(at)thenewsmarket.com.
Novartis Investor Relations
Central phone: +41 61 324 7944
Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 North America:
Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Stephen Rubino +1 862 778 8301
Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425 Jill Pozarek +1 212 830 2445
Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188 Edwin Valeriano +1 212 830 2456
e-mail: investor.relations(at)novartis.com e-mail:
investor.relations(at)novartis.com
Media release (PDF):
http://hugin.info/134323/R/1689290/554403.pdf
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Source: Novartis International AG via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1689290]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 01.04.2013 - 08:58 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 244531
Anzahl Zeichen: 7020
contact information:
Town:
Basel
Kategorie:
Business News
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