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Interview: Shia Levitt, Sound Medicine reporter

Sound Medicine contributor Shia Levitt reports on India's controversial drug patent law.

With some of the friendliest patent laws, India has been a major source of lower-cost alternative drugs for people worldwide.

For example, the Swiss company Novartis tried to patent a cancer drug called Glivec in India, where the drug could not patented -- despite being successfully patented in 40 other countries.

Now, however, India is required to implement a patent application process for brand-name drug companies with new inventions. As a result, Novartis is challenging both the rejection of its Glivec patent and the legitimacy of Indian patent law.

Additional Resources:

• Read this editorial on the New York Times about India drug patent laws.

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