Advocates Try To Block Gilead Patent For Hep C Drug In India

In the latest tussle over access to medicines, patient advocates in India are attempting to prevent Gilead Sciences from obtaining a patent for its forthcoming hepatitis C treatment, which is called sofosbuvir, over concerns that pricing will make the drug out of reach for many people. The filing argues that elements of the Gilead patent application are actually not original and, therefore, should be rejected. “Old science, existing compound,” says Tahir Amin, an attorney director of the The Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge in a statement. “India’s patent law doesn’t give monopolies for old science or for compounds that are already in the public domain. We believe this patent on sofosbuvir (the Gilead drug) does not deserve to be granted in India and have the legal grounds to prove it" (here is the filing, with lots of exhibits). The move reflects an increasing likelihood that a new round of potent treatments for combating hepatitis C are likely to become the next battleground in which the pharmaceutical industry and patient advocates will face off over pricing and access. A recent report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy, for instance, suggested poor nations should consider compulsory licensing if prices are too high (more here). The Gilead drug is widely anticipated because the medicine represents a significant advance over a pair of relatively new hepatitis C treatments approved just two years ago. Sofosbuvir offers a higher cure rate with...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs