Bayer fails to block generic Nexavar in India

The Supreme Court of India dismissed an appeal by Bayer AG (Xetra:BAYN) and upheld a compulsory license issued to Natco Pharma Ltd. (BSE:NATCO; NSE:NATCOPHARM) to manufacture and market a generic version of cancer drug Nexavar sorafenib. Bayer had filed a Special Leave Petition seeking to overturn a Mumbai High Court decision that also left the license in place.

The Indian Patent Office granted Natco India's first compulsory license in March 2012 after finding Bayer did not make Nexavar available to the public at a "reasonably affordable price" (see BioCentury Extra, March 12, 2012). ...