Breather for Natco in Novartis cardiac drug case from Delhi High Court

May open floodgates for Indian drugmakers to launch the generic version of the drug as early as next week

In a breather to Indian drug makers, the Delhi High Court has advised the assistant patent controller to hear Hyderabad-based drugmaker Natco Pharma’s opposition to Novartis’ patent for the latter’s blockbuster heart failure drug (a combination of sacubitril and valsartan).

This decision by the court assumes significance because it would likely open the door for Indian pharma players to launch their generic versions of the heart failure drug Vymada (sold globally as Entresto).

The court had on Wednesday reserved the order on Natco Pharma’s writ petition over the grant of a patent to Novartis by the Indian Patent