(a) whether the Government has directed the Buyer firm to keep the price of Naxavar an anti-cancer drug at affordable level;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government can issue compulsory licence under section 84 of the Patent Act; and
(d) if so, the time by which the Ministry would issue compulsory licence on this?
MINISTER OF STATEflNPEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR)
(a) &(b): Naxavar is a non-scheduled anti-cancer drug. In respect of drugs not covered under the Drugs(Prices Control) Order, 1995 i.e. non-scheduled drugs, manufacturers fix the prices by themselves without seeking the approval of Government/NPPA. Under the present framework of price fixation there are no controls on the launch price of non scheduled medicines.
(c) & (d): Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has issued Compulsory License for
`Sorafenib Tosylate` in March, 2012 to M/s NATCO Pharma Ltd. under Section 84 of the Patents Act.