With the United States Trade Representative releasing its “Special 301” report, the fortnight ahead will see much discussion on the prevailing regulatory environment in India to protect Intellectual Property (IP). The USTR report assesses its trade partners on IP, and the pharma industry reads its contours closely since it provides fodder for lobbyists against Indian generic drugmakers seeking greater market access in India.
Also boiling into next week will be the discussion around cardiac stents. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority recently rejected applications from Abbott and Medtronic seeking to withdraw their top-end stents following the government’s price cap. Also, a price control case on medicines is coming up next week at the Supreme Court.