Published on Mon, May 14, 2007 at 08:52 | Source : Moneycontrol.com
Updated at Mon, May 14, 2007 at 14:07
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Gilead Sciences counts on Indian pharma companies
Despite a pre-grant challenge to its Indian patent application due to be heardsoon, the California-based Gilead Sciences is hopeful of making its licence agreements with 10 Indian companies for its HIV drugs, the model for marketing other drugs in the future.
The 23-year-old, 2,000-employee company has multiple patents pending with the Indian Patent Office and is hopeful of winning the challenged patent application of Viread, which according to the company, is used in the treatment of 80 per cent of new HIV patients. Cipla sells its own generic version of the drug.
'The patent has been granted throughout the world and we have never had a third party challenge,' said Mr Alton, adding that Gilead believed in responsible use of the Intellectual Property Right and an approval will not just encourage the research-based companies to do business in India, but also encourage R&D in India.
Indian production is expected to be distributed in 94 countries in Africa, East Asia and Central Europe, which account for 95 per cent of HIV prevalence. The company also hopes Cipla will enter into a similar agreement with them despite the pre-grant opposition.
