India rejects Novartis patent appeal

MUNICH -- Novartis AG said its challenge to Indian patent law over that country's rejection of a patent on the best-selling cancer treatment Gleevec was turned down by a court.

The Basel, Switzerland-based company challenged India's legal basis for the rejection of a patent on Gleevec. The Indian government last year denied the application, saying the drug was insufficiently innovative. Novartis said it probably won't appeal yesterday's decision.

Novartis said strong patent laws would strengthen Indian research. The High Court in Chennai deferred to the World Trade Organization to settle whether India was meeting international trade rules. Doctors Without Borders and other groups contend a court victory by the drug maker would have dried up a major source of affordable medicines for people across the globe.

"This is a huge relief for millions of patients and doctors in developing countries who depend on affordable medicines from India," Tido von Schoen-Angerer, director of the Doctors Without Borders Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, said in an e-mail.