India overhauls drug patent guidelines to curb evergreening and speed up cheap generics
Mint 1 hr ago·16 Oct 2026, 8:14 am
India has proposed new patent rules aimed at curbing 'evergreening,' a practice where companies make minor tweaks to old drugs to extend their monopoly. The new draft guidelines require manufacturers to provide strict scientific proof that a modified drug offers a genuine improvement in therapeutic efficacy. This move is expected to make it harder for companies to secure patents for incremental changes, potentially opening the market to cheaper generic alternatives sooner.
This policy shift matters to investors as it could significantly impact the profitability of pharmaceutical companies that rely on high-margin, niche patents. While it may boost competition and lower drug prices for consumers, it poses a challenge for firms that depend on a steady stream of new patent filings to maintain growth. Investors should monitor how major drugmakers adjust their R&D strategies and pipeline planning in response to these stricter standards.
Excerpt from Mint
NEW DELHI: India plans to overhaul its drug patent rules to stop pharmaceutical companies from evergreening patents through minor modifications and artificially extend market monopolies. New draft guidelines issued by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under the ministry of…Read the original at Mint
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