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See-Saw: Challenger Natco Is Now Licensee For Lilly’s Baricitinib

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Lilly brings challenger Natco into licensee fold for baricitinib in COVID-19, while the Indian firm retracts a compulsory licensing application for the JAK inhibitor, rapidly diffusing a potentially difficult situation for both sides. But will the six other baricitinib licensees in India match the price of Natco’s on-market version?

see-saw
Lilly ropes in Natco as licensee for baricitinib • Source: Alamy

Eli Lilly and Company has granted a voluntary license to challenger Natco Pharma Limited for baricitinib in India, ending what could have potentially escalated into a high-decibel and divisive tussle over access and availability of the therapy for the treatment of COVID-19. 

The US firm on 17 May said that Natco had been issued a royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary license to further accelerate and expand the availability of baricitinib in India

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