The U.S. would grant a patent to a piece of toilet paper. Just because the U.S. granted a patent, doesn’t mean it should be valid.
– Amar Lulla, CEO of Indian generics drugmaker Cipla
Source: Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2010
Quote of the Day – Amar Lulla added by SearchIndia.com on
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Amar Lulla has shown guts to say some truth.
The US patent system, at many times, appears silly, especially when someone tries to patent what is already well known.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Poor countries like India can’t afford to pay the ridiculous prices charged by the greedy corporations.
The Wall Street Journal story mentions that Bayer AG is selling its cancer drug Nexar for $2,000 a month (no typo, that is $2,000 a month) in India while Cipla plans to sell a generic version for $200 per month.
Now Bayer is using the legal system in India to try to block Cipla from launching the generic version. So far Bayer has failed (including recently at the Delhi Court).
It is always a catch 22 situation with the patent stories.
Drug companies say they invest lot of money on R&D and would want to recover the investment through the sales of the drugs and hence the patents. But if you are going to charge the moon for your invention who would buy it.
I think you would have read about the BT Brinjal saga in India, which is more or less a similar story. You invent and share the technology with others and you can get the royalty for your invention, but you hold sole marketing rights and do not allow others, that is where the problem starts.
You are talking about $2000 a month for the Bayer drug, there is one more Cancer drug called Herceptin (Manufactured by California based Genentech) it costs more than $2000 a dose.
This is the same case in any country, US included. The case becomes worse when your Insurance says it cannot support the treatment!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: Drug companies say they invest lot of money on R&D and would want to recover the investment through the sales of the drugs and hence the patents.
Will someone please tell us why drug prices are far cheaper in countries like Canada compared to the U.S.
Blinded by greed and abetted by their scumbag doctors and politician allies, the pharma companies have played havoc with consumers in the U.S. and other countries susceptible to easy influence from the lobbyists.
2. There’s another disturbing phenomenon for the last few years where large pharma companies bribe generic drug companies to delay the launch of cheaper generic eqiivalents.
3. Of all the species on this planet there’s none so vile as the human species.