Generic
drug manufacturing companies have had a poor run since 2004
in major litigation challenging patents in international courts.
But analysts feel that the recent reversals are unlikely to deter
these companies from reducing the number of patent challenges they
file. This is because if they win even a few of the many cases they
file, it will bolster their bottom lines significantly.
During the period, as many as 35 "best selling"
drugs of traditional pharma companies were scheduled to go off-patent.
The current sales value of these drugs is estimated to be in the
range of $35 billion. Generic drug refers to a copy of an original
product whose patent has expired.
Firms such as Ranbaxy, India's biggest pharmaceutical
company and manufacturer of erectile
dysfunction (ED) generic drug Caverta are fiercely targeting
the large domain of off-patent drugs. Patent litigation has now
become an integral part of the global generic drug business, because
of extremely high stakes. Ranbaxy has been spending about $20 million
annually for litigation in patent challenges. Analysts said generic
drug manufacturers would not shy away from forking out money because
the gains in case of a win would be too big.
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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051017/asp/business/story_5363506.asp
