The legal fraternity and non-governmental organisations have termed the Madars High Court?s decision to dismiss the Swiss pharma major Novartis AG?s petition a ?welcome move for all cancer patients in developing countries?.
?The ruling would help cheaper drugs remain in the market. A favourable decision for Novartis could have compelled generic drug makers to withdraw cheaper versions of medicines from the market,? said Leena Menghaney of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
Legal experts said India had a very strong case against the multinational and it was unlikely that the ruling could be reversed.
?The patented drug in question would cost a patient about Rs 1.2 lakh per month while the generic copies are available at less than one-tenth of the price,? Menghaney said adding there were about 25,000 new cases of cancer reported every year in the country and not everybody can afford expensive medicines.
Terming the decision a huge relief for millions of patients in developing countries who depend on affordable medicines from India, director of the MSF Campaign for access to essential medicines Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer said, ?we call upon multinational drug companies to leave the Indian Patents Act alone and stop pushing for ever stricter patent regimes in developing countries.?
