Cholesterol: It's All About The Numbers, Even The Patents

Grace Teoh discusses a dispute on a patent for cholesterol medication.

Dave Barry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and columnist, was quoted as saying, "It is a scientific fact that your body will not absorb cholesterol if you take it from another person's plate". On 3 April 2014, the New Straits Times reported in the article "More than a third of Malaysians suffer from high cholesterol" that over one-third of Malaysians suffer from high cholesterol due to unhealthy lifestyles.

Lovers of nasi lemak in Malaysia with high cholesterol levels requiring treatment may now have access to cheaper generic drugs, as a result of the Malaysian High Court's recent decision in Winthrop Pharmaceuticals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd v AstraZeneca UK Ltd (KLHC CS No. D-22IP-57-10/2011)("Suit 57") to invalidate a particular patent.