Glivec patent case
Innovation behind Glivec
Gaining Clarity on Innovation in India: the Glivec Case
The Glivec case is about gaining clarity on the application of patent law in India, which is important to the economic future of the country. Novartis challenged the decision not to grant a patent to our life-saving medicine Glivec because we strongly believe safeguarding incentives for innovation through the granting of patents leads to better medicines for patients. We also believe that working through the judicial system is a legitimate approach to gaining clarity on the unique aspects of India's patent law. Novartis actively supports innovative approaches to increase access to medicines, such as public-private partnerships, tiered pricing arrangements and shared contribution models in addition to donation programs. More than 95% of all Glivec patients in India receive their medicine free of charge through the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP). We welcome the opportunity to present our case to the Indian Supreme Court.
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Commitment to access to medicines
Innovation: the heart of our access strategy
Multiple barriers to access affect global health:
- limited availability of healthcare personnel,
- treatment and diagnostic options,
- low quality of care,
- limited accessibility of health facilities,
- too little focus on prevention,
- poverty and
- lack of health education.
Innovation across diverse areas of healthcare is the foundation of our access strategy. Even as we seek new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases, we also forge innovative ways to deliver healthcare solutions to patients who need them.
Novartis contributes to improving healthcare by discovering and developing innovative vaccines and medicines for unmet needs. The pharmaceutical industry invests more than USD 50 billion each year in research and development (R&D) - the single most important source of investment in health research. Investment in R&D by Novartis ranks among the highest in the industry. In 2011, our access-to-medicine programs reached more than 89 million patients and, together with our R&D institutes for diseases in developing countries, were valued at USD 1.7 billion.
