Pfizer first MNC to get HIV drug patent in India

Name of
drug

Name of
company

Date/place of opposition

Status

Combivir

GSK

30 March 2006
Kolkata

GSK withdraws
appllication

Nevarapine
Hemihydrate

BI

9 May 2006
Delhi

Written response
from BI, opposition
hearing soon.

TDF

Gilead
Science

9 May 2006
Delhi

Gilead licensed the drug to other Indian
generic cos

TD

Gilead
Science

September 2007
Delhi

NA

Atazanavir

Novartis

27 July
Chennai

Abandoned

Ritonavir

Abott

August 2006
Mumbai

NA

Lopinavir

Abott

August 2006
Mumbai

NA

Kaletra
(soft gel)

Abott

August 2006
Mumbai

Abandoned

Amprenavir

GSK

13 July 2006
Delhi

NA

Abacavir

GSK

June 1997
Kolkata

Abandoned

NA: Not available
Source: Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+)

 These were the main reasons cited by the Indian Patent Office for rejecting the patent for the cancer drug Gleevec, which snowballed into a global patent battle between the Swiss drug major Novartis and the Indian government.  Leaders with the public interest groups expressed surprise at the decision of the Indian Patent Office.  "This is a major development and is a harbinger of the availability and prices of crucial new drugs. We have to evaluate the importance of this drug for HIV patients in India and will decide on the course of action soon," said Leena Menghaney of Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF), part of the activists