Mumbai, India, August 6, 2007 – A decision issued today in an Indian court will have long-term negative consequences for research and development into better medicines for patients in India and abroad. The High Court in Chennai dismissed the writ petition challenging the constitutionality of Section 3(d), and deferred to the World Trade Organization (WTO) forum to resolve the TRIPS compliance question. The full text of the Court’s decision is not yet issued. “We disagree with this ruling, however we likely will not appeal to the Supreme Court. We await the full decision to better understand the Court’s position,” said Ranjit Shahani, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Novartis India Limited. “Our actions advanced this essential debate in India; now local and international leaders in both industry and academia recognize the inadequacies of Section 3(d) and are raising serious concerns about the deficiencies of the Indian patent system.” Novartis brought this case forward because it firmly believes this was the right thing to do for patients. Effective patent systems ensure incentives are in place that stimulate long-term research and development efforts critical for medical progress. Image source: novartis.com. > Continue.
News selected by Covalence | Country: India | Company: Novartis | Source: Novartis
