The Hindu : Business : Product patent for Roche

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 04, 2006

Business

Business

Product patent for Roche

Staff Correspondent

First drug patent granted under new policy regime

MUMBAI: Swiss drug maker F.Hoffmann La-Roche has become the first pharmaceuticals company in India to receive a product patent under the new patent regime.

The Patent office has granted the product patent to Roche for Pegasys, a new generation hepatitis therapy. The patent for Pegasys was applied for under the Mailbox facility for post-1995 inventions and is valid for 20 years from May 15, 1997. This necessarily means that no other company will be allowed to launch a generic version of the drug in India.

This development would now see more companies getting their technically complex products patented under the new patent rules.

The cost of treatment with Pegasys for a 24 weeks therapy is about Rs. 2.5 lakh, which also includes the support in the form of diagnostic tests and Ribavirin. The price has not changed after the patent has been granted.

Dr. Girish Telang, Managing Director, Roche Scientific India, said, "Pagasys is the result of more than a decade of Roche's pioneering research.

This product patent approval marks a major landmark for Roche in India. I foresee this development usher in the next wave for the Indian pharmaceutical space by way of a flow of newer innovative molecules in the Indian market complemented by increased investments in R&D towards drug development efforts."

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