Russian government gives green light for compulsory licensing of patented drugs

The Russian government has put forward an initiative for the compulsory licensing of patented drugs produced for exports, so that Russian companies can manufacture and sell drugs protected by a patent, according to recent statements by the press service of the Russian federal government, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

At present the mechanism of compulsory licensing is used in extreme cases in Russia: if the manufacturer leaves the market, in the case of overpricing or epidemics and involves financial remuneration of the patent holder.

According to an official spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Science – a state agency, which became the major initiator of the new proposal -  the proposed amendments involve the use of a compulsory licensing mechanism exclusively for exports.