Doctors Without Borders takes Pfizer to Delhi High Court on Pneumonia Vaccine Patent

Published On 2017-10-14 08:18 GMT | Update On 2017-10-14 08:18 GMT

New Delhi: A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the patent granted to US pharmaceutical company Pfizer for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) used to protect infants, young children, and adults from pneumonia bacteria.

The plea came up for a brief hearing before Justice Vibhu Bakhru and a notice was issued on the petition.

The court listed the matter for November 21 seeking response of the Centre, the Controller General of Patents, Assistant Controller of Patents and the US firm.

The petition by a representative of Mdecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders - a Paris-based international humanitarian-aid organization - sought setting aside of an August 11 order of the Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs granting a patent for the vaccine.

The patent was granted for the vaccine PCV13 (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine), sold here under the brand ‘Prevenar 13’ for over 10 years.

MSF has filed a petition with the Delhi High Court to set aside this patent, which it claims has “dashed hopes for improved access to an affordable PCV13.” This is because the patent would give Pfizer exclusive access to the Indian market for this vaccine until 2026.

The association, represented by senior advocate Anand Grover, said the decision was without application of mind, improper, illegal and contrary to the principles of law.

The plea, filed through advocate Rajeshwari, said as pneumonia is the leading cause of childhood death, the vaccine is important for children in general and there is a need for this vaccine to be available at an affordable price.

Article Source : PTI

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Doctors Without Borders takes Pfizer to Delhi High Court on Pneumonia Vaccine Patent

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