Roche’s decision to drop Herceptin patent in India opens way for generics

The Swiss drug producer Roche has confirmed that it will not pursue a patent application in India for its breast cancer drug trastuzumab (which it markets as Herceptin). The decision could pave the way for manufacturers of generic drugs to make copies of the drug in India, although it could be several years before any of these versions reach patients.

Roche said on Friday 16 August that it would not pursue “Indian patent number 205534,” which would have enabled it to extend the patent on trastuzumab in India until 2019. The company said …