Big Pharma Demands Transparency, Keeping their ‘Black-Boxes’ Tight and Safe?

Pharmaceutical Industry across the globe wants absolute transparency in all government laws, policies, guidelines, transactions and overall governance. They also expect the trade environment should be predictable, non-manipulative and business-friendly. These expectations are indeed well justified and deserve whole-hearted support … Continue reading

India, China Revoke Four Pharma Patents in A Fortnight: A Double Whammy for MNCs?

Revocation of four pharma patents by India and China within a fortnight has raised many eyebrows, yet again, across the globe. In this short period, India has revoked three patents and China one. While this quick development is probably a … Continue reading

Transparency in Drug Trial Data: Thwarted by Lobbyists or Embroiled in Controversy?

Based on a leaked letter from overseas pharma industry bodies, a leading international daily in late July 2013 reported: “Big pharma mobilizing patients in battle over drugs trials data.” Some experts consider it as a poignant, if not a bizarre … Continue reading

In the Wonderland of Pharma Generics: Some Steps In, Some Steps Over the Line

To scale-up access to healthcare, especially for the marginalized population of any country, greater access to affordable generic drugs will always remain fundamental, besides improving healthcare infrastructure and its delivery mechanism. Thus, there should be a robust mechanism across the … Continue reading

Patent Conundrum: Ignoring India Will Just Not be Foolhardy, Not An Option Either

The recent verdict of the Supreme Court against Novartis, upholding the decision of the Indian Patent Office (IPO) against grant of patent to their cancer drug Glivec, based on Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act, has caused a flutter … Continue reading

The Ghost Keeps Haunting: NCD Dogs Cancer in ‘Compulsory License’ Debate of India

In November 2012, as a part of the ‘Campaign for Affordable Trastuzumab’ for the treatment of breast cancer, a citizens’ collective, reportedly sent an ‘Open Letter’ signed by around 200 cancer survivors, women’s groups, human rights and health rights campaigns … Continue reading

Government Ups the Ante for More Compulsory Licenses in India

On January 12, 2013, one of the leading dailies of India first reported that in a move that is intended to benefit thousands of cancer patients, Indian Government has started the process of issuing Compulsory Licenses (CL) for three commonly … Continue reading