India Flouting Own Patent Law By Giving IP Protection To Undeserving Drugs?

India is known for its strict patent legislation restricting which drugs can be given IP protection, but a new study suggests authorities in the country are actually being too lenient in awarding patents in a rush to grant new applications.

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IS INDIA FLOUTING OWN PATENT LAWS? • Source: Shutterstock

India has long been under fire from Big Pharma over its tough patent legislation that insists a drug must display “novelty” to be granted intellectual property protection. The country’s Patents Act says a patent can’t be granted for a new version of an older drug unless changes make it significantly more therapeutically effective.

India framed its strict patent law to improve healthcare access and affordability in a country where hundreds of millions of people live in poverty. The high patent hurdles also have...

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