India court rejects cancer drug patent bid

2013-04-01 25

Residents in India's capital New Delhi form long queues at this pharmacy.

The country is home to a drugs market that grows between 13 and 14 percent every year, making it an attractive investment for Western pharmaceutical companies.

But a landmark court ruling could change that.

On Monday, India's top court rejected a bid by Swiss drug-maker Novartis to win patent protection for its cancer drug, Glivec.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ADVOCATE FOR RANBAXY, PRATIBHA M SINGH, SAYING:

"The Supreme Court judgment today in the Novartis case is that Novartis' appeal has been dismissed."

The court said the drug could not be patented as a new medicine because the formula was based on an amended version of a known compound.

Activists have welcomed the decision, saying many Indians cannot afford branded medicines.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MANAGER, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF), LEENA MENGHANEY, SAYING:

"It's a huge relief because we have more than 200,0

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