In India, Continued Access to Best Meds for the Poor

As the New York Times reports today, India's Supreme Court rejected the patent application submitted by Novartis, which means that generic drug makers in India can legally continue producing and selling versions of Novartis meds at a much lower cost. This means that poor patients will have continued access to the generic version of Gleevec, a highly effective leukemia treatment, since Indian versions run approximately $2,500 annually, compared with the brand name version at $70,000/year.