Cipla get green signal from Delhi high court for marketing Tarceva

Delhi High Court today declined to restrain Cipla Ltd from manufacturing and selling the generic version of Hoffman-La Roche's lung cancer drug Tarceva.The Swiss pharmaceutical company had approached the court after it found that Cipla was planning to launch a generic version of Tarceva in India and export the same to various countries. While the generic version will cost about Rs 1,600 per tablet, the price of Roche’s patented version is around Rs 4,800. After considering the huge difference in prices of the two products, Delhi High Court said the drug should be available in the market for the benefit of patients.The court was of the view that the balance had to be tilted in favour of the people. Passing the interim order, Justice S. Ravinder Bhatt, however, directed Cipla to maintain accounts of sales figures for the calculation of damages to be awarded if Hoffmann finally wins the case. Roche was granted a patent for Tarceva in India in February 2007. Patent experts, however, said this may not serve the purpose, as the damages to Roche following the ruling will be far more than what Cipla earns by selling the drug. Cipla is selling the drug at one-third Roche’s tab. Now when Cipla is allowed to sell it, Roche will be compelled to reduce match Cipla’s price if it has to keep selling Tarceva. It is believed that the Swiss drug maker could even approach the Supreme Court. For more details on this new please check sify Telegraph