Novartis
latest news & developments
Generic cancer drug – access not guaranteed
A generic version of a key cancer drug is now available in South Africa, but at a significantly higher cost than it is available internationally.
Impoverished patients benefit from rejected drug patent
After a seven-year battle, India’s government has successfully defended its right to reject drug patents if a medicine doesn’t deserve one.
India makes breakthrough drug patent ruling against Novartis
India’s Supreme Court has rejected a patent bid by Novartis in a ruling that will protect access to generics and save lives in developing countries.
India’s top court to deliver Novartis judgment
Judgment is set to be delivered this week in the Novartis drug patent case in India.
Drug patent war threatens SA healthcare
SA healthcare has withstood court assaults by Big Pharma, but it will be dealt a tragic blow if a faraway battle over drug patents goes the wrong way.
Big Pharma backs deal to boost flu pandemic readiness
Virus samples will be shared globally in exchange for vaccines produced from them under a landmark deal to improve preparedness for a flu pandemic.
A squirt in the right direction for drugmakers?
Drugmakers’ traditional model is under threat from looming loss of exclusivity on some of the industry’s biggest sellers.
WHO warns against drugs from Sandoz SA plant
The WHO on Monday warned customers not to buy drugs made by Novartis’s Sandoz generics unit in SA after an inspection revealed more than 40 faults.
WHO bridges rich-poor intellectual property split
The World Health Organisation’s 193 member states on Saturday overcame their deep divisions over intellectual property rules and endorsed a strategy to help improve…