Complete tech transfer important to enhance mfg capabilities in pharma: Sitharaman
Updated: Sep 17, 2014 04:53:25pm
New Delhi, Sept 17 (KNN) India respects the intellectual property in new drugs, Commerce and Industries Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, but emphasized that complete technology transfer is important to enhance the country’s manufacturing capabilities in this critical area.
A delegation of Gilead Sciences Inc met her here yesterday. The delegation informed the Minister about signing of non–exclusive licensing agreements with seven India based generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to manufacture Sofosbuvir and the investigational single tablet regimen of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for distribution in 91 developing countries.
Sofosbuvir is a drug developed by Gilead Sciences used to treat Hepatits C infection.
The delegation informed the Minister that under the licensing agreements, the Indian companies receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process to enable them to scale up production as quickly as possible.
The companies which have signed the agreement are - Cadila Healthcare Ltd, Cipla Ltd, Hetero Labs Ltd, Mylan Laboratories Ltd, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Sequent Scientific Ltd and Strides Arcolab Ltd.
These countries account for 54 per cent of the total global infected population of Hepatitis C.
The Gilead team also briefed the Minister about the fact that no price limitations have been fixed in the said licensing deal in order to ensure adequate competition amongst the licencees resulting in competitive prices for the patients.
Sitharaman welcomed the development as this will result in expansion of access of these drugs to many more patients. She emphasized that pharmaceutical industry has a very pronounced human aspect and such a sector cannot be governed by the commercial considerations alone.
The Minister further said that India appreciates the value of innovation and partnerships to improve access of medicines through transparent, non-restrictive voluntary licensing and hopes that it will help in technology transfer in front-end technologies in healthcare. (KNN/SD)
A delegation of Gilead Sciences Inc met her here yesterday. The delegation informed the Minister about signing of non–exclusive licensing agreements with seven India based generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to manufacture Sofosbuvir and the investigational single tablet regimen of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for distribution in 91 developing countries.
Sofosbuvir is a drug developed by Gilead Sciences used to treat Hepatits C infection.
The delegation informed the Minister that under the licensing agreements, the Indian companies receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process to enable them to scale up production as quickly as possible.
The companies which have signed the agreement are - Cadila Healthcare Ltd, Cipla Ltd, Hetero Labs Ltd, Mylan Laboratories Ltd, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Sequent Scientific Ltd and Strides Arcolab Ltd.
These countries account for 54 per cent of the total global infected population of Hepatitis C.
The Gilead team also briefed the Minister about the fact that no price limitations have been fixed in the said licensing deal in order to ensure adequate competition amongst the licencees resulting in competitive prices for the patients.
Sitharaman welcomed the development as this will result in expansion of access of these drugs to many more patients. She emphasized that pharmaceutical industry has a very pronounced human aspect and such a sector cannot be governed by the commercial considerations alone.
The Minister further said that India appreciates the value of innovation and partnerships to improve access of medicines through transparent, non-restrictive voluntary licensing and hopes that it will help in technology transfer in front-end technologies in healthcare. (KNN/SD)
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