India revokes patent of Novartis' cardiac drug Vymada: Report

Novartis

Pharma major Novartis received a setback from the Indian Patent Office after the patent on its blockbuster cardiac drug Vymada was revoked due to lack of novelty, the Times of India reported on September 16.

The latest development could significantly reshape India’s cardiac drugs market. Till now, courts had restrained the generics version of the drug from Natco, Torrent Pharma, MSN Labs and Eris Lifesciences, with several firms entering the market with the risk of legal challenges, TOI said.

However, with the revocation of the patent, companies can now launch their products and help in bringing down the price, the paper said citing an industry expert.

The drug Vymada combines two medicines valsartan and sacubitril and is marketed as Entresto globally. It is also a major revenue driver for the multinational drug company. Last year, the firm generated $7.8 billion from Vymada in global sales.

Deputy controller of patents and designs D Usha Rao issued the ruling on September 12, saying that company could not demonstrate any clear advantage of its claimed “supramolecular complex” over the existing combination, TOI reported.