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Article: INDIA: AMENDMENT OF PATENTS ACT COULD IMPEDE ACCESS TO DRUGS.
- Article from:
- Interpress Service
- Article date:
- August 9, 2007
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By Praful Bidwai
NEW DELHI, Aug. 9, 2007 (IPS/GIN) -- A high court ruling this week dismissed a petition by a Swiss pharmaceuticals multinational corporation, giving cancer patients cause for relief.
The Indian government, however, is reportedly planning to amend the country's patents law, a move that would tip the balance of power back toward drug companies.
The Swiss corporation, Novartis, was seeking to challenge an Indian law that denies patents for minor or trivial improvements to known drugs. At immediate stake is the cost of a leukemia drug called imatinib mesylate. Novartis prices its brand of the medicine, Gleevec, which is also ...