"Victory for generics in Indian patent case"

Glivec, the drug that started the controversy

Source: T. V. Padma, SciDev.Net, 6 August 2007

Lead: "An Indian court today (6 August) rejected a petition by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis challenging a clause in Indian patent law that prohibits the patenting of minor changes to existing drugs." The article continues: "A statement released by the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), quoting Tido von Schoen-Angerer, director of the MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicine, says, 'This is a huge relief for millions of patients and doctors in developing countries who depend on affordable medicines from India.' Novartis challenged the clause in the Chennai High Court in 2006 after its application for a patent for the anti-cancer drug Glivec was rejected on grounds that it was simply a newer version of an existing drug."

Comment: How could I disagree with MsF? JAD