The Indian Patent Office has issued the first-ever compulsory licence in India to a generic drug manufacturer. This effectively ends the monopoly in India on the drug Nexavar (sorafenib tosylate) used to treat kidney and liver cancer for German drug major Bayer (BAY: DE). Indian generics firm Natco Pharma (524816: BY) was issued the license under section 84 (1) (b) of the Patents Act.
The Patent Office acted on the basis that not only had Bayer failed to price the drug at a level that made it accessible and affordable, it was also unable to ensure that the medicine was available in sufficient and sustainable quantities within India, it was noted.
Bayer will explore options
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