US pharma group hails India-America IPR talks

THE GROUP HAS BEEN COMPLAINING AGAINST INDIA’S POOR ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS’ LAWS

NEW DELHI: US-based influential lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) hailed the recent Indo-US talks on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) held during President Obama’s visit, and expressed hope that India would improve its drug-regulatory system.

The organisation, which has been complaining against India’s poor enforcement of IPR law, told HT that the ongoing talks between both governments were encouraging. “We hope that the two governments will work to secure concrete outcomes to achieve a predictable policy environment for fostering innovation in India,” said John J Castellani, CEO and president, PhRMA.

The organisation pointed out that biopharmaceutical innovators’ recent experiences in India had been unfortunate. This, if unchecked, would continue to undermine rather than facilitate the building of an innovative sector here, the group said.

It also hinted on the recent lapses in good manufacturing practices caught by American heath watchdog Food and Drug Administration. “We hope that India will continue to prioritise efforts to advance sciencebased drug regulatory system to better deliver drugs to Indian patients.”

Mutlinational drug makers, led by US-based companies such as the world’s largest drug maker Pfizer, have also been complaining against India’s poor enforcement of IPR laws.

As per industry estimates, between 2014-2016, about $92-billion (`5,61,200 crore) worth patented drugs are expected to go off-patent in the US, as compared to the $65 billion (`3,96,500 crore) during 2010-12.