aresponsibilityforspreadinghappiness: Personal decision. Novartis Vs India News

14th of March 2007

I am writing to make you aware of a personal decision that I have decided to carry out due to the current obstination from Novartis’s behalf against the Indian legislation about medical patents, I have decided to carry out a 24hr fast, every 15th day of the calendar months.

This personal action will end once a solution can be find that will allow to continue providing medical supplies to the “less favourable” countries.

Some close friends have decided to join me in this voluntary fasting.

Thus, I will continue providing you with all the information I can obtain regarding this subject.

This is in connection with the support we are providing to campaigns, obtaining signatures and the boycott against Novartis pharmaceutical company.

Sincerely,

oscgim

Novartis is suing the Indian Government

TIMELINE — Some key dates on the Indian Patent Act and the Novartis Case.

1994/1995 - Creation of the World Trade Organization & entry into force of the TRIPS Agreement, which obliges developing countries to grant patents on medicines no later than 2005.

2003 - Novartis launches Gleevec in the US at $2,600 per patient per month. Generic versions of Gleevec soon become available in India for under $200 per patient per month. April 2005 - Amendment of India's Patents Act: medicines can now be patented in India. However, the law stipulates that only true medical innovations will be protected by patents. Section 3(d) specifies that new forms of known substances do not deserve patents.

Jan. 2006 - Novartis' patent application on Gleevec rejected by Indian patent office, on the grounds that it is simply a new form of a known substance.

May 2006 - Novartis appeals patent office's decision in High Court in India. Novartis also challenges Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Acts.

September 2006 - First hearing of the appeal and challenge. No decision made, but broader hearing set for later date. 29 Jan. 2007 - Last scheduled hearing in Chennai High Court in India was March 23 rd.