Indian NGO Challenges Patent For Roche’s Anti-HIV Valcyte
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
An Indian group has filed a challenge to the government's grant of a patent for Roche's Valcyte (valglanciclovir) drug for treating HIV. Roche received the patent last year from the Chennai patent office, but the challenge by the Delhi Network of Positive People said it was granted without hearing opposing arguments by two non-governmental organizations. The contention of the opposition is that the drug is a known compound, or at least no more than a new version of a known substance, and therefore does not justify a patent. Roche also holds patents on the drug in other countries. (Click here for more