1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Legal & IP

Pharma’s Voluntary Licensing In India Successful In 2021 – But There Were Some Delicate Moments

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Merck and Lilly tackle some early challenges before striking voluntary licensing deals for COVID-19 therapies with Indian firms. Data around the use of these drugs in low- and middle-income countries could also potentially make them ‘more acceptable’ elsewhere, experts say.

partnering caution signs
Voluntary Licensing - The Way Forward? • Source: Alamy images

The World Trade Organization COVID-19 TRIPS (the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver proposal put forth initially by India and South Africa may still have significant ground to cover in the New Year, but 2021 saw big pharma move deftly to seal voluntary licensing agreements with Indian firms for therapies to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

While these licensing deals are undoubtedly aimed at expanding availability and access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), they also...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Legal & IP

Court Allows MSN Marketing Of Entresto Generic, But More Legal Issues Pending

 
• By Dean Rudge

Novartis failed to stop MSN from launching a generic Entresto and saw an earlier temporary ban lifted, potentially opening the market to competition before a final decision on a US patent dispute.

Repurposed Generics For Rare Diseases: Janet Woodcock Proposes Shortcut

 
• By Grace Moser

A Duke-Margolis working group is developing ideas to enable non-profit firms to seek US FDA approval for new indications for off-patent medicines. The former acting commissioner thinks citizen petitions might be the fastest route.

‘Prescription Drugs Are Not Golf Balls’: FTC/DoJ Solicit Clashing Opinions On Patents

 
• By Urtė Fultinavičiūtė

Innovator drug advocates argued that the number of patents asserted by industry is not too dissimilar to other fields. But should drugs be compared to golf balls?

The Politics Of Divisionals: How European Patentees Are Still Gaming The System

 
• By Dave Wallace

At Medicines for Europe’s legal affairs conference last month, divisional patents were once again a major subject of discussion. Attendees heard fresh details of how patentee games are preventing generics from hitting the market and restricting wider access to major medicines.

More from Pink Sheet

New Advisory Group To Shape UK’s Simplified Informed Consent Process

 
• By Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Although the UK Health Research Authority’s initial proposal for simplified informed consent was rejected by stakeholders, it has yielded valuable insights into reducing trial burden and widening access

Ultragenyx Says CRL Discussions ‘Productive’ Despite US FDA Leadership Upheaval

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Ultragenyx said talks with the FDA about a path forward after receiving a CRL for UX111 have been productive despite the recent upheaval at the agency.

Prasad 2.0 Brings New Instability Concerns, Questions About Changed Regulatory Philosophy

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Many agency stakeholders believe Vinay Prasad may be forced to change his regulatory approach at least somewhat after receiving a second chance to lead the US FDA's biologics center.