Kerala High Court seeks reports on whether cheaper alternative can substitute patented cancer drug
The Kerala High Court has requested expert reports to determine if cheaper breast cancer drugs can be substituted for expensive patented ones. This follows a petition regarding the high cost of life-saving medication and the potential for government intervention under patent laws.
Why it matters
The case addresses the tension between pharmaceutical patent rights and the public's right to affordable healthcare.
The Kerala High Court has directed the National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar; Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata; the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram; and the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to file reports on whether Ribociclib and Palbociclib, medicines used in breast cancer treatment, can be substituted for each other.
The article balances the arguments of the amicus curiae and the pharmaceutical companies while reporting on court proceedings.
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