-The Indian Express Chennai: The fate of Sterlite Industries, and that of thousands of people of coastal Tuticorin, now depends on the south bench of the National Green Tribunal, which is hearing the company's petition against its closure ordered by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). The biggest copper smelting unit in the country, part of the Vedanta Group, moved the tribunal after the TNPCB ordered closure of the plant following...

-The Economic Times Foreign pharma companies could be forced to overhaul their strategy for the Indian market by striking more local deals and cutting sky-high drug prices after the Supreme Court slammed the door on Swiss giant Novartis' attempts to gain a patent for its blood cancer-busting drug Glivec. But the ruling, welcomed by Activists campaigning for affordable drugs and local generic companies, threatened to reinforce a narrative that India...

-Live Mint SC judgement may not open a floodgate of revenues for local pharma firms; nevertheless, it is a psychological win The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by Novartis AG to revoke denial of a patent to its cancer drug Glivec. The judgement is important because multinational companies (MNCs) can be denied patent protection on improved drugs unless they can prove the medication has better efficacy. Although this decision will displease...

-The Hindu   People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy to lay siege to township tomorrow TIRUNELVELI: The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project has "successfully completed" the mandatory penultimate tests before commissioning its first unit by testing an array of steam relief valves under operating pressure and temperature. The tests, started on last Friday to evaluate the performance of high-precision steam relief valves at operating pressure and temperature, were completed on Monday. "We're immensely satisfied with the...

-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...