Thanks to india Rs.2.84-lakh cancer drug will soon cost just Rs. 8,880

[IFB]

Cancer-treatment drug Nexavar will soon be available to patients at Rs. 8,880 a pack of 120 tablets, thanks to India invoking an international trade rule allowing the generic production of an unaffordable drug that is patented.

Bayer, a German multi-national, holds the patent for Nexavar (the brand name of sorafenib tosylate), which now sells at Rs.2.84 lakh.

The way for such a huge reduction in the price was cleared on Friday when the Indian Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks granted the first-ever ‘compulsory licence' in India to the Hyderabad-based Natco, a generic drug-maker, for making sorafenib tosylate, which is used to treat kidney and liver cancer.

Natco had sought ‘compulsory licence' under Section 84 of the Indian Patent Act.

The drug is used for the treatment at the advanced stages of kidney and liver cancer. The drug stops the growth of new blood vessels and targets other important cellular growth factors. Though it is not a life-saving drug, it is a life- extending drug. In the case of kidney cancer, it can extend the life of a patient by four-five years, while in the case of liver cancer it can extend life by about six- eight months.

Natco Pharma had applied for the invoking of the provision last July after Bayer declined to accept its request for a voluntary licence to manufacture and sell the drug.

In his order issued on Friday, Controller of Patents P.H. Kurian also directed Natco Pharma to supply the drug free of cost to at least 600 needy and deserving patients every year.

Natco Pharma will also have to pay a royalty to Bayer at the rate of six per cent of the net sales on a quarterly basis, and the licence shall be valid till the entire balance period of the patent — it was granted in 2008 and will expire in 2020.

Welcoming the development, Director-General of the Central government's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Samir Brahmachari said it was a heart-warming decision as the drug would be available at just three per cent of the current price.

Dr. Brahmachari, who has initiated an open source drug discovery programme in the CSIR to help develop drugs for tuberculosis and other diseases of public health importance, noted that in the health sector at least there was a need to strike a balance between the rights of the patent-holders and the needs of the users. “There can be profits. But, not profiteering at the cost of the patients.”

The Hindu : News / National : Rs.2.84-lakh cancer drug will soon cost just Rs. 8,880

 

[Aramsogo]

This is theft of German IP pure and simple. Bayer is fighting this theft.
Only you guys would brag about this.
Thanks to car thief, I bought a New stolen Porsche for $1, 000. I will give rightful owner $20.
Ridiculous.

 

[Shardul.....the lion]

Its different, In India few of the patients can afford Rs 2.84 lakh per month for say one year.
These pharma companies exploit the need of patients.

India has done right thing.
And the company NATCO will be paying certain amount of Money to Bayer (the patent holder company)

I hope aramsogo understands, Saving a life is far more important than buying a cheap copied Car.

 

[Sasquatch]

Good Job India.

 

[Aramsogo]

Its different, In India few of the patients can afford Rs 2.84 lakh per month for say one year.
These pharma companies exploit the need of patients.

India has done right thing.
And the company NATCO will be paying certain amount of Money to Bayer (the patent holder company)

I hope aramsogo understands, Saving a life is far more important than buying a cheap copied Car.

this is theft, pure and simple. A thief who steals cannot afford too. It is not an excuse. Cancer is not a commutable disease like HIV.

What's next?? theft of viagra and propecia??

 

[IndoUS]

this is theft, pure and simple. A thief who steals cannot afford too. It is not an excuse. Cancer is not a commutable disease like HIV.

What's next?? theft of viagra and propecia??

So just let the people die because its not a communicable disease?? What kind of F**ked up reasoning is that.

 

[Aramsogo]

So just let the people die because its not a communicable disease?? What kind of F**ked up reasoning is that.

people die without food too. Why doesn't Indians rob German of their food too and give them token 2 rupees.
Theft is theft.

 

[IndoUS]

people die without food too. Why doesn't Indians rob German of their food too and give them token 2 rupees.
Theft is theft.

Because the government already has a quota system for people where they get lower cost food and rations. Almost everything in India is subsidized for poor people.

And even then Rs. 8,800 is a lot of money that poor people won't be able to afford. But still it will help the majority.

 

[Aramsogo]

Because the government already has a quota system for people where they get lower cost food and rations. Almost everything in India is subsidized for poor people.

And even then Rs. 8,800 is a lot of money that poor people won't be able to afford. But still it will help the majority.

you dont understand, Bayer offered charity to India. India said no, we will go with theft instead.

you are stealing from the German pocket for a non-commutable disease. It is no different than stealing German potatoes or a German car.

 

[JonAsad]

OP- why you thanking yourself in the title-
As you say you doing some thing for humanity- you should least hv courtesy to not thank yourself- wtf showing off like some insecure attention seeker-

 

[Armstrong]

Good job. We have a similar department here in Pakistan but the bureaucracy is thoroughly corrupt and the Drug Companies pretty darn rich so the department rarely, if ever, gets anything done ! How did you guys get around the corruption and all that red-tape bullsh*t ?

 

[Shardul.....the lion]

you dont understand, Bayer offered charity to India. India said no, we will go with theft instead.

you are stealing from the German pocket for a non-commutable disease. It is no different than stealing German potatoes or a German car.

Where its written that Bayer offered charity to India?

And communicable or non communicable, its about affordability of a life saving drug for patients.
And Saving a life of patient is noble cause while stealing a car or potato is a theft.

 

[Aramsogo]

OP- why you thanking yourself in the title-
As you say you doing some thing for humanity- you should least hv courtesy to not thank yourself- wtf showing off like some insecure attention seeker-

A potato thief can sell me a truck full of potatoes for $5, but he wont brag about it.

 

[peep]

Where its written that Bayer offered charity to India?

And communicable or non communicable, its about affordability of a life saving drug for patients.
And Saving a life of patient is noble cause while stealing a car or potato is a theft.

Had too much of Boost myIQ syrup. Leave that poor soul.

 

[Aramsogo]

Where its written that Bayer offered charity to India?

And communicable or non communicable, its about affordability of a life saving drug for patients.
And Saving a life of patient is noble cause while stealing a car or potato is a theft.

read the wsj version, not the BS Indian press. BAYER offered charity under its charity program. india would rather steal.

theft is theft. There is no nobility in it. People need potatoes too, doesnt make stealing it noble.