Skip to main content

Archana Shanker considers the implications of the grant of a compulsory licence for the very first time in the Indian patent system.

The licence was granted to Natco Pharma, a generic drug company, for sorafenib tosylate, a life-extending drug developed, patented and launched by Bayer Corporation. This drug is sold under the trade name of Nexavar and is used for the treatment of advanced-stage kidney and liver cancer.

The Controller General of Patents has set a benchmark in this landmark decision by invoking Section 84(1), a crucial provision of the Indian Patents Act which allows any person interested to file an application for grant of compulsory licence on a patent at any time from three years after grant on various grounds mentioned in the Indian Patents Act.

This article was published in Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review 2012.

To continue reading, please contact us at email@anandandanand.com

Most Recent

News & Insights

VIEW ALL
News & Updates, Thought Leadership
Mar 18, 2026

First published by Lexology. Authors: Safir Anand and Sehr Anand Intellectual property Design protection Which IP rights are applicable to fashion designs?

Snapshot: intellectual property for fashion goods in India
News & Updates, Thought Leadership
Mar 10, 2026

‘First published on BW Legal World’ By: Safir Anand, Mudit Kaushik and Sehr Anand India has strong design talent, ranging from local craftspeople to

Not Just Made in India – Designed in India The Budget’s Most Strategic Move
News & Updates, Thought Leadership
Mar 10, 2026

‘First published on BW Legal World’ By: Pravin Anand and Dr. Ajai Garg The Summit underscored a broader reality: artificial intelligence is no longer

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Law, Leadership, and India’s AI Moment
Thought Leadership
Feb 13, 2026

‘First published on Enterprise IT World’ By: Subroto Kumar Panda How the 2026 IT Rule Amendments Protect You in the Age of AI In an era where seeing

The Digital Armor – 2026