Natco Forces Compulsory Licence Issue

Indian generic drug manufacturer Natco Pharma wants to export its versions of two patented medicines to neighbouring Nepal under compulsory licences. However, India's patent office is scrutinising the company's proposal to ensure it conforms to the WTO's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, which lets governments override patents and allow the production of generic copies of drugs deemed critical to public health in poor countries. It is BMI's view that Natco's petition will fail, primarily because any monetary gain realised by the company will be dwarfed by retaliatory trade sanctions imposed by the US on

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