Indian Patent Office at last approves Pfizer's patent for Prevnar 13

The Indian Patent Office has granted US drug giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) a patent for its blockbuster vaccine, Prevenar 13 (pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate), used to protect children against pneumococcal diseases. The approval comes over a decade after the company applied for the patent in the country.

Pfizer subsidiary Wyeth’s application for grant of Prevenar 13’s patent “entered national phase” in October 2007, according to the Indian Patent Office’s document that granted the approval. Over the years, this patent application has been opposed by Indian vaccine maker Panacea Biotec and global medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), noted The Economic Times of India.

According to the Patent Office, Pfizer has demonstrated “surprising effects” that have to be considered as establishing that the vaccine is inventive.

“We are pleased to note that the validity of the Prevenar 13 patent has now been recognized by the Indian Patent Office,” a Pfizer spokesperson told the newspaper. Globally, Prevnar generated sales of $1.15 billion for Pfizer in the second quarter of the current year.