STRATEGIES FOR DRUG PATENT EVER-GREENING IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY?

Drug patent ever greening is a marketing strategy that multinational pharmaceutical companies have been using. In the past, the ever greening process has caused some major controversies in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. It has been used by manufacturers of a particular drug to restrict or prevent competition from manufacturers of generic equivalent. Thus, extending the patent period and seizing the generic drug manufacturing which overall incurs additional cost burden that can be very significant for the public health budgets and the consumer. The research article will focus on the various ever greening strategies utilized by drug makers. And will highlight the importance of Section 3(d) which helps discourage the abysmal practice of the pharmaceutical companies from ever greening of patents.