CCI To Scan Drug Patent Settlements

In one of the recent move by the Government, the country's competition regulator may examine details of patent settlements being negotiated between foreign branded medicine companies and local generic drug makers as these agreements may restrict the access of cheaper drugs to the sick. The cases which the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is likely to review include the patent deal between Swiss drug maker F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Cipla Ltd on lung cancer drug erlotinib, and the one between US-drug multinational Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp. (MSD) and India's Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd on a new diabetes drug called sitagliptin. CCI's decision to review these settlements follows increased regulatory scrutiny of patent settlements between brand owners and generic companies in Western countries.