Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma limited said that it had successfully opposed a patent application in India that covers the composition of Glatiramer Acetate (GA), the generic version of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Copaxone. GA, marketed in pre-filled syringes, is used to treat multiple sclerosis.
The patent application was submitted to the Indian Patent office by Yeda Research & Development Company, which licensed GA product to Teva. The patent office refused to grant patent because of "obviousness and lack of inventiveness" over the prior art.
"We are extremely pleased by the patent office's decision to deny this application. We've long maintained that the composition claimed in this request was an obvious variation of compositions in the public domain, and the current decision removes a potential obstacle to providing high quality and more affordable version of MS (multiple sclerosis) patients in many countries of the world", Natco chairman and managing director, V Nannapaneni, stated in a press release.
Natco has commercialised its GA product in India and Ukraine. On June 10, 2008, Natco also signed a license and supply agreement with Mylan Inc for its GA that granted Mylan exclusive distribution right in the US and all major markets in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada besides an option to expand into additional territories.
.