Business line Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007

New Delhi Jan. 30 Health organisations from across the world have came forth in support of the Indian Government in its ongoing legal case against drug manufacturer Novartis and urged the Swiss company to drop its patent case in India.
Novartis had filed an application for patenting its cancer drug Gleevac, used for treating Leukaemia, which the Indian Government had turned down. The company filed a case with the Madras High Court challenging the decision.
“The treatment with Gleevac costs Rs 1,20,000 per month for a patient as compared to Rs 8,000 per month with its generics. If Novartis wins the legal battle, it will set a wrong precedent for other patent cases and have widespread implication on provision of other life saving drugs,” said Dr Amit Sengupta of People’s Health Movement, a health organisation working for the poor people.
“India is an important source of cheap medicines for the developing countries and if Novartis wins the case, it may lead to drying up of a source of affordable medicines to these countries. I urge the Indian Government and Novartis to keep people’s health above IPR concerns,” said Dr Unni Karunakara of Mdecins Sans Frontires, another health organisation.
About 67 per cent of medicines produced in India are distributed to developing countries. Further, about 50 per cent of the essential medicines distributed by UNICEF in the developing world come from India, according to these health organisations.