The Hindu Business Line : Pfizer’s patent win may be positive for Indian arm

New York based-pharma major Pfizer Inc’s patent win for AIDS/HIV drug Selzentry (generic name Maraviroc) in India could boost its Indian unit’s fortunes, if it can get past the opposition from public interest groups.

The reported patent approval for Maraviroc, the first in class in new oral drugs, could be a boon for AIDS patients in India that is home to over 25-lakh patients. This in turn could boost Pfizer India’s fortunes whose net sales slid by 2 per cent, in the third quarter ended August 31. If the product builds sufficient volumes, Pfizer India could also get projects in the manufacturing area, although Pfizer is yet to announce its launch date for Maraviroc in the country.

Favourable results

The tentative nature of these plans is understandable as the expensive nature of second-line medications such as Maraviroc could work against it in the country, given the sensitivity of this issue (grant of patents) with public interest groups.

A second line medication refers to drugs that patients who are resistant to primary drugs, can use. The Indian Government provides medicines to nearly 1-lakh AIDS patients, but these are the basic first line of medication. An increasing number of patients are developing resistance to their initial AIDS drugs, fuelling the need to switch over to more clinically-appropriate treatments which second-line medications offer, at higher costs.

Maraviroc has received fast-track approval by the Food and Drug Administration in August and has been documented to have favourable results in treating people. Selzentry’s efficacy lies in the unique way in which it inhibits HIV. Instead of targeting the virus directly, Selzentry targets a human protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the ability of HIV to enter cells.

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