Cancer drug ruling 'will help poor people'

India’s Supreme Court today rejected drug maker Novartis’ right to patent a new version of a life-saving cancer drug, a lawyer for health care activists said.

The landmark ruling is a victory for India’s €20bn generic drug industry that provides cheap medicines to millions around the world.

The ruling is a precedent that prevents international pharmaceutical companies from obtaining fresh patents in India on updated versions of existing drugs.

Lawyer Anand Grover said such a ruling would help poor people get access to affordable, generic versions of life-saving medicines.

Novartis has fought a legal battle in India since 2006 for a fresh patent for a leukaemia drug.

India’s patent office had rejected the company’s patent application because it was not a new medicine.