[Ip-health] Norway asks Novartis to withdraw case

[Joana Ramos]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Healthcare__Biote=
ch/Norway_minister_asks_Novartis_to_withdraw_case/articleshow/1982357.cms

Norway asks Novartis to withdraw case

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, MAY 01, 2007 02:36:01 AM]
New Delhi: Swiss pharma-major Novartis=92s fight against certain
provisions in the Indian patent laws =97 which do not allow patenting of
incremental innovations =97 has taken an interesting turn with Norway=92s
minister of international development Erik Solheim asking the company to
withdraw its case against India.

Novartis had filed the case following India=92s rejection of its patent
plea for =91Glivec=92 =97 a drug for fighting blood cancer. In its appeal,
Novartis stated that the provisions in the Indian patent laws, which do
not allow patents on incremental innovations, went against the Trips
agreement and should be amended. India=92s argument is that allowing
patents on incremental innovations would lead to ever-greening of
patents wherein companies would file for fresh patents by making
superficial changes in the patented product once the life of the initial
patent is over after 20 years.

In a letter to Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella, the Norwegian minister
stated that India contributed in very significant ways to the overall
production capacity for life saving generic drugs, with major exports to
developing countries. It is important for global health that this
contribution can continue, he said.

Urging Novartis to seek a solution in the current case that adequately
address these concerns, the minister said the company should withdraw
its case against India.
According to an official release, Mr Vasena underlined that there is a
shared interest in a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and
multilateral trading system, that, at the same time, can support global
health security. =93Building in public health safeguards in national
patent laws to ensure that patents do not limit access to medicines is a
right of every country. The cost of innovation cannot be borne by
countries and people with the weakest economic capacity,=94 he said.

The minister added that international trade policies and agreements need
to be placed within the context of protecting and promoting health and
well-being. =93Global health security is depending on each country having
the capacity to safeguard public health=94, the letter added.

--
Joana Ramos, MSW
Cancer Resources & Advocacy
Seattle WA USA
Tel. +1-206-229-2420
http://ramoslink.info/
www.cancersurvivorsproject.org
www.healthyskepticism.org