There are just so many people in India, and over 62 million people are afflicted, there -- most of them very poor, by Western standards. And so, there is a move afoot to have sitagliptin declared an essential medicine -- and either remove patent protection there, or broadly empower sales of it -- at "access priced" manufacturers, and outlets. To counteract this, Merck is vigorously protecting its patents in country, alleging infringement. [Just search "Glenmark" in the box above for all the dozens of background posts and history, here.]
The latest development this morning, US time, has Glenmark authorized by Indian courts to continue -- past April 28, 2015 -- to sell its generic sitagliptin salt, in country, despite Merck's trial court level win, in a patent infringement suit, there. Here is the Financial Express item, overnight:
. . . .A bench headed by justice Ranjan Gogoi while posting the matter for further hearing on May 12 continued its stay order that in effect allowed the generic pharma major to make and sell its anti-diabetes drugs Zita and Zita-Met, which allegedly amounts to infringing the patent rights of US drug major Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), which manufactures sitagliptin under the brand names Januvia and Janumet. . . .
We will report again, after the May 12 Indian court hearings. Onward!
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