US pharma concerns on IP rights and compulsory licensing in India

Continuing its tirade against some developed and developing countries, the US drugmakers lobby group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has urged the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to take immediate action to address serious market access and intellectual property (IP) barriers in 19 overseas markets, including India, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

In its 2018 Special 301 submission, the organization has called on the USTR to designate Canada, Korea and Malaysia as 'Priority Foreign Countries' and to include Japan, India, and 10 other countries on the 'Priority Watch List'.

Being on the 'Priority Watch List' means that India continues to figure among countries that the USTR feels have 'serious intellectual property rights deficiencies' and do not give adequate protection to US corporate majors.