In 2006 the drug company Novartis took the Indian government to court over its patent law, in a move that threatened access to affordable medicines produced in India for millions of people across the developing world. The company wanted to get the law changed so that they could more easily extend  the patents on their products, and stop generic companies producing the same medicines at a fraction of the price.

MSF’s Drop the Case campaign, launched in response to this move, gathered nearly half a million signatures calling on the company to drop its case. But six years later, the legal battle continues. India’s Supreme Court is now due to give the final judgement on the case this year. MSF has renewed its campaign call for the company to stop its attack on generic medicines.

Why India is the  ‘pharmacy of the developing world’

India is often called the ‘pharmacy of the developing world’ because it produces affordable generic versions of medicines that are used the world over. More than 80% of the antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) used by MSF in its HIV/AIDS programmes come from producers of generics based in India, just as 80% of the ARVs purchased with donor funds globally come from India. MSF also relies on Indian generics for malaria and tuberculosis treatments.

India became the key producer of affordable medicines because until 2005, the country did not grant patents on medicines, allowing generic manufacturers to freely produce more affordable versions of medicines patented elsewhere. Fierce competition among producers drove prices down dramatically – whereas ARVs for one person per year cost US$10,000 in 2000, today, they cost just less than one percent of that figure.

India starts granting – and rejecting – patents

India had to start granting patents for medicines in 2005 because of its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization. This means that price-busting competition between generic and originator drug producers will be blocked for drugs that receive patents – for example for several newer medicines to treat HIV/AIDS.

When designing its patent law, however, India decided that only drugs that show an improved therapeutic effect over existing ones deserve patents. This part of the law – ‘Section 3d’ – intends to prevent companies from continually extending their 20-year drug patents by making minor changes or improvements – a process called ‘evergreening.’ Along these lines, the Indian patent examiner in 2006 rejected the patent that Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis sought for the leukemia drug imatinib mesylate (marketed as Glivec), because it was based on a compound that already existed.

Novartis takes the Indian government to court

In response to its drug patent being rejected, Novartis took the Indian government to court in 2006, not only challenging the rejection of its patent, but also the part of India’s law, Section 3d, that formed the basis of the decision. If Section 3d were overturned, it would mean patenting would become much more widespread in India, severely limiting the production of more affordable generics.

MSF launches the original DROP THE CASE campaign – and the fight continues

Nearly half a million people signed the Drop The Case petition, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, author John Le Carré and former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss. The campaign resulted in extensive media coverage and increased public awareness of the role of India as ‘pharmacy of the developing world.’ While the company never dropped its case, the Madras High Court in August 2007 ruled against Novartis.

Undeterred, the company has continued to appeal against each legal reversal,  with the result that India’s final court – the Supreme Court  -  is now due to hear the case in February 2012.