-The Economic Times WASHINGTON: Big Pharma found little support from the small guy on the street as the Indian Supreme Court's decision to reject patent claims of the drug maker Novartis for its celebrated cancer medicine Glivec reverberated across the world. The pharma lobby railed against the decision but the overwhelming sentiment, from physicians to politicians, from academia to media, particularly in a country groaning from the high cost of health care,...

-The Business Standard Now, local firms can sell their low-priced generic version of the drug in India and export it to developing markets, where it is not patented Domestic drug firms such as Cipla, Natco, Ranbaxy and Hetero are a happier lot following the Supreme Court verdict on Monday, dismissing Novartis AG's patent plea for anti-cancer drug imatinib mesylate or Glivec, as sold by the Swiss drug maker. This is because the judgement...

-The Hindu   "The court has recognised the right of patients to access Affordable Medicines over profits for big pharma companies" It was celebration time for health activists and civil society groups after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment dismissing Swiss multinational company Novartis' appeal for patent for its anti-cancer medicine imatinib mesylate or Gleevec. "We are happy that the apex court has recognised the right of patients to access Affordable Medicines over profits...

-Live Mint SC rejects Novartis's patent plea for Glivec, says it does not meet any standard of novelty or inventiveness In a landmark judgement, India's apex court rejected Swiss drug maker Novartis AG's legal challenge aimed at securing a patent for blockbuster anti-cancer drug imatinib mesylate, branded Glivec in the country. The verdict, which is seen as a setback to multinational pharmaceutical companies operating in India, may influence a rash of pending disputes...

-The Hindu The Supreme Court order rejecting a plea to grant patent protection for Glivec, a cancer-fighting drug from Novartis, is a landmark. It will greatly strengthen the quest for access to Affordable Medicines in India. The decision affirms the idea that a patent regime loses its social relevance when a drug is priced beyond the reach of the vast majority of a country's people. That pharmaceutical companies employ high pricing...