Patent Row No Hurdle for Gilead Pharma's India Plans

US drug maker Gilead Pharma says that the recent decision by the patent office, which rejected patent for one of its molecules, does not impact its India plans.

Gilead has announced that it is expanding the voluntary licence agreement with eight Indian companies to include its experimental drug that could cure all the six types of hepatitis C.

The American biotechnology company also makes the new hepatitis C drug Sofosbuvir. Last year, Gilead signed a licensing agreement with Strides, Mylan, Cipla, Dr Reddys, Ranbaxy, Zydus Cadila for Sovaldi.

The drug, priced at $84,000 in US for 12-week treatment, will be sold at $900 in India. It is expected to launch the drug in coming months in India, says the company.

Gregg Alton executive vice-president to ET said that, "We believe that Gilead and Indian companies can make a difference to the world through such partnerships."

Alton also said that the decision by the patent office is only for one of the ancillary molecules and the company does not see this decision as an indication of India's policy on intellectual property.


Source: Medindia