Patent Monopoly/Evergreening

Facts for Prelims
 

Patent Monopoly/Evergreening
 

News: India rejects Johnson & Johnson’s attempt to extend monopoly on lifesaving TB drug – Bedaquiline.
 

What is Evergreening?
 It is a practice of modifying drugs (without improving efficacy) in order to extend their patent life and profitability.
 Evergreening establishes monopoly and it undermines competition.
 The Indian Patents Act, 1970 prohibits the mischievous practice of evergreening of patents making the drugs affordable and promoting domestic generic drug markers.
 

About Bedaquiline:
 Bedaquiline is a crucial drug in the treatment of multi-drug resistant TB patients for whom the first-line drug treatment (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol) has stopped working.
 Over 55,000 patients benefited from access to Bedaquiline in India in 2019.
 When J&J filed for evergreening of its patent on fumarate salt (a formulation of Bedaquiline), its patent evergreening practice was challenged by two TB survivors in 2019. 

DICS Branches

Our Branches

DICS Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad

(Head Office)

Address : 506, 3rd EYE THREE (III), Opp. Induben Khakhrawala, Girish Cold Drink Cross Road, CG Road, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, 380009.


Mobile : 8469231587 / 9586028957

Telephone : 079-40098991

E-mail: dics.upsc@gmail.com

Gandhinagar

Address: A-306, The Landmark, Urjanagar-1, Opp. Spicy Street, Kudasan – Por Road, Kudasan, Gandhinagar – 382421


Mobile : 9723832444 / 9723932444

E-mail: dics.gnagar@gmail.com

DICS Vadodara

Vadodara

Address: 2nd Floor, 9 Shivali Society, L&T Circle, opp. Ratri Bazar, Karelibaugh, Vadodara, 390018


Mobile : 9725692037 / 9725692054

E-mail: dics.vadodara@gmail.com

DICS Surat

Surat

Address: 403, Raj Victoria, Opp. Pal Walkway, Near Galaxy Circle, Pal, Surat-394510


Mobile : 8401031583 / 8401031587

E-mail: dics.surat@gmail.com

DICS New Delhi

New Delhi(In Association with Edge IAS)

Address: 57/17, 2nd Floor, Old Rajinder Nagar Market, Bada Bazaar Marg, Delhi-60


Mobile : 9104830862 / 9104830865

E-mail: dics.newdelhi@gmail.com