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The article reports that the Indian Patent Office has issued a compulsory license to the pharmaceutical industry firm Natco to a patent of the firm Bayer for a generic version of a cancer treatment drug. The ruling of the patent office that Natco was entitled to a license because Bayer had not met public requirements for the drug, that it was not available at a reasonable price and had not been proved to be effective in India is discussed.

The article focuses on the increase in generic drug patent licenses from pharmaceutical companies in India in 2012. Information is provided on the approval of a drug patent for the generic form of Nexavar from the pharmaceutical company Bayer to Natco. Topics include the Indian Patent Office's royalty payment rules, the implementation of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) in India, and the reasonable requirements doctrine.

The article reports on the licence granted by the Indian Controller General of Patents, Design and Trademarks to Natco Pharma for the production and sale of the generic version of Bayer's patented cancer drug Nexavar at 97% cheaper than normal cost.

The article reports that India's controller general of patents authorized precedential compulsory license for the Bayer cancer drug Nexavar (sorafenib tosylate) to make it affordable. The decision allows India-based Natco Pharma to make and sell a generic version of the drug without Bayer's consent. Bayer may reportedly appeal the regulator's ruling. Health charity Doctors Without Borders concurs with the ruling and looks to compulsory licensing for other expensive drugs.

The article focuses on increasing patent litigation in the pharmaceutical sector since the 2005 amendment of the Indian Patent Act. A recent landmark decision concerning the compulsory license applications made by Natco Pharma Ltd. is discussed. Section 92A of India's Patent Act, which was introduced by the 2004 ordinance and modified by the 2005 amendment, is related to the grant of compulsory licences for export of patented pharmaceutical products to countries with inadequate drug facilities.

The article reports that hearings were held by India's Patent Office, allowing pharmaceutical companies, Roche Holding AG and Pfizer Inc., to oppose Natco Pharma Ltd.'s applications to export patented medicines using a compulsory licence. In July 2008, the Office dismissed Natco's petition opposing the hearings. Natco had challenged the Office's decision to hear the arguments of the patentees before deciding whether or not to grant the licences.

The article reports that the Doha style compulsory licensing under section 92 A of the Patent Act has sparked debates in India. The section deals with the issue of compulsory licensing for manufacture and export of generic versions of patented drugs for export to countries having insufficient or no manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector, in order to address their public health problems. Also discussed is the case of Natco Pharma which was invited for a hearing after it filed two application for grant of compulsory license.

The article states on Natco Pharma Ltd. and Cipla Ltd., two Indian pharmaceutical companies that want to launch copy-cat versions of the antilung cancer drug Tarceva by Roche Pharmaceutical Co., under two different provisions of India's patent law. It states about the country's first application for compulsory licensing of Tarceva, filed by Natco Pharma and about Cipla filing an opposition to the patent already granted to Roche Pharmaceutical, to manufacture a cheaper copy of Tarceva.

The article evaluates the contraceptive Tarana from Natco Pharma Ltd.

Reports on the impact of value added tax (VAT) on the financial performance of the pharmaceutical industry in India from January to March 2005. Background on the country's VAT system; Indian states that have modified the VAT structure for drugs and pharmaceutical products in response to a demand from dealers; Effects of a three-day retail chemists' strike on Natco Pharma's sale revenue for the first nine months of its 2004-2005 financial year.

Reports that Natco Pharma Ltd. will issue foreign currency convertible bonds in November 2004. Purpose of the proceeds from the issuance of the bonds; Target sales revenue of the company; Actions that will be taken by the company to reduce its debt.