Will ‘Patent Thicket’ Delay Biosimilar Drug Entry in India?

Do pharma and biotech investors encourage companies indulging in ‘patent thicket?’ This question recently grabbed media headlines. On April 02, 2019, one such report brought out: AbbVie investors are calling for the Chair-CEO power split, flagging the CEO’s USD 4 million bonus payout, fueled … Continue reading

Dwindling Drug Innovation: Declining Image: Unchanged Business And Advocacy Models

A report of ‘The United States International Trade Commission (USITC)’ released on December 22, 2014 suggested, if tariffs and investment restrictions were fully eliminated, and standards of IP protection were made comparable to the U.S and Western European levels, American … Continue reading

At The Indian IPR Front: ‘Ground Control, There’s No Major Storm’

The incessant pressure of the developing countries on India, from 2005 to date, to include various restrictive conditions in the Indian Patents Act 2005, still continue. This demand spans across the inclusion of even those provisions, which many experts term … Continue reading

On Serious Healthcare, Some Bizarre Decisions

On August 04, 2016, it was widely reported by the media that the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers – Mr. Anant Kumar, would launch a new digital initiative of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), named, “Search Medicine Price”, … Continue reading

Patented Drugs: A Dangerous Pricing Trend Impacting Patient Access

The upcoming trend of jaw dropping high prices for new patented drugs sends a ‘storm signal’ to many stakeholders, especially for its adverse impact on patient access. Even more intriguing, such high and insane prices are being fixed rather arbitrarily, … Continue reading

Indian Patents Act To Prevail Undiluted…Finally

Curiously enough, what a little birdie told me just a couple of weeks ago, very similar to that I read in various media reports even less than a week later. It was related to a somewhat trepidatious national policy in the making on … Continue reading

Playing Hardball, Riding the Horse of ‘Innovation’

Media reports are now abuzz with various stories related to intense pressure being created by Big Pharma on the United States Government to declare India as a ‘Priority Foreign Country’ for initiating ‘Trade Sanctions’. As we know, ‘Priority Foreign Country’ … Continue reading

Does the Landmark Glivec Judgment Discourage Innovation in India?

No, I do not think so. The 112 pages well articulated judgment of the Supreme Court of India delivered on April 1, 2013, does not even remotely discourage innovation in India, including much talked about ‘incremental innovation’. This landmark judgment … Continue reading