Gilead Elated as India Upholds Sovaldi Patent
In a move fraught with political tension, Indian officials reversed course and granted a patent to Gilead Sciences for its Sovaldi hepatitis C treatment, handing the drug maker an unexpected victory while angering many patient groups.
Early last year, the Indian Patent Office rejected the company’s patent application on the grounds that it was not a significant improvement compared with an earlier compound developed by another company. The decision came in response to a challenge to the Gilead patent that was filed by several patient advocacy groups and companies that make pharmaceutical ingredients.
Early last year, the Indian Patent Office rejected the company’s patent application on the grounds that it was not a significant improvement compared with an earlier compound developed by another company. The decision came in response to a challenge to the Gilead patent that was filed by several patient advocacy groups and companies that make pharmaceutical ingredients.