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18 April 2016Asia

Indian drug makers end generic bids

Indian-based drugs companies BDR Pharmaceutical and Lee Pharmaceutical have reportedly abandoned their attempt to produce generic versions of two drugs developed by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS).

According to  The Economic Times both companies have given up their fight citing a lack of government support.

BDR and Lee previously tried and failed to market generic versions of cancer drug Sprycel (dasatinib), produced by BMS, and Onglyza (saxagliptin), which is made by AstraZeneca and used to treat type two diabetes.

In 2013, BDR’s application to create a generic version of Sprycel was rejected by the Controller General of Patents and Trademarks, while in January this year Lee’s application to market a generic version of Onglyza was also rejected by the controller general.

Dharmesh Shah, BDR’s managing director, told Reuters: “There is no point in pursuing it anymore.”

Venkata Reddy, Lee’s managing director, added: “If the government itself is not inclined then why unnecessarily slog on this issue?”


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More on this story

Asia
2 March 2016   Médecins Sans Frontières has urged the Indian Patent Office to reject a Gilead Sciences patent application covering Sovaldi.
Asia
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