Novartis urged to drop India generics lawsuit

Pharmaceutical firm Novartis, which is continuing with a legal challenge against the Indian government regarding the production of generic medicines, has been urged to drop this legal action.

Novartis is attempting to overturn the provision in Indian patent law restricting the award of patents solely to innovative medications, with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) arguing that removal of this provision would limit the production of affordable pharmaceuticals necessary in the developing world.

With the court hearing in Chennai, India, due to continue on February 15th, MSF, in conjunction with the Indian network for People with HIV/Aids, the People’s Health Movement and Centre for Trade and Development, has called on Novartis to end its challenge.

Dr Unni Karunakara, medical director of the campaign for access to essential medicines at MSF, said: “Novartis is trying to shut down the pharmacy of the developing world.

“Indian drugs account for at least a quarter of all medicines we buy and form the backbone of our Aids programmes, in which 80,000 people living in over 30 countries receive treatment.”

He added that 80 per cent of the pharmaceuticals used to treat sufferers of HIV and Aids come from India, with it not being an option to let Novartis halt this supply.

MSF is an independent humanitarian group offering emergency aid to those affected by natural or man-made disasters or are otherwise excluded from health care.