Nexavar case may spawn more India compulsory licensing activity in oncology/HIV areas
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
India's recent decision granting a compulsory licence for Bayer's anticancer Nexavar (sorafenib tosylate) to Natco Pharma may theoretically open the flood gates to several more applications, especially in the oncology and HIV/AIDS segments. But legal experts believe that the controversial interpretation of "working" an invention to include local manufacture may be challenged all the way to the country's top court or even at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).