Will not invest in R&D of medicines in India: Novartis chairman

Stung with the Supreme Court’s rejection of its patent plea for blockbuster Glivec medicine, Swiss company Novartis today said that it will only introduce new products in India and not invest in research and development of medicines here.

“Investors want returns, but intellectual property environment is unfavourable in India. So, big pharmas would not want to invest,” he added.

Sahani also said that Novartis will continue to file for patents in India.

Earlier in a statement published on the company website, Novartis warned that the Supreme Court’s order will discourage future innovation in India and also pointed out that the company has never been granted an original patent for Glivec in the country.

“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,” Shahani was quoted as saying in the statement.

[caption id=“attachment_680957” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Expressing similar sentiments, IDMA Secretary-General Daara B Patel said the order was in favour of poor patients. Reuters[/caption]

He further said 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,” he said.

The company also expressed concerns about India’s “growing non-recognition of intellectual property”.

Meanwhile, domestic drug manufacturers have welcomed the court verdict and said that the order will give poor patients will easier access to quality medicines, PTI reported.

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) termed the judgement “landmark judgement” in favour of poor patients.

“The decision of the Supreme Court will come as a relief to patients suffering from these dreadful diseases as several Indian companies, including Cipla, Ranbaxy and Natco, can continue marketing imatinib at a fraction of the cost of the Novartis product,” IPA Secretary General D G Shah said in a statement.

Imatinib (Glivec) is on the National List of Essential Medicines and is an important drug in the treatment of several cancers such as certain blood and stomach cancers.

“This is a landmark judgement that will serve to set at rest the controversy that was raised regarding the scope of section 3(d) in the Patents Act, which is a crucial safeguard against the extension of patent monopolies of known drugs and the consequent delay in the availability of affordable generic versions,” Shah further said.

Expressing similar sentiments, IDMA Secretary-General Daara B Patel said the order was in favour of poor patients.

“It is a good judgement. It is in favour of the country’s poor patients and is in support of Indian generic companies. Though I feel sorry for Novartis but I feel happy that rules of the country have prevailed and this help the poor patients,” Patel added.

With inputs from PTI