| Swiss drug multinational Novartis, which got a five-year exclusive marketing right for its block-buster anti-cancer drug Glivec (imanitib mesylate) in India, is reviewing the option of restarting its Glivec International Patient Assistance Programme (GIPAP) for Indian patients.
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| Novartis introduced GIPAP to cancer patients in India in September 2002, wherein the drug was made available free of cost to patients who did not have access to the drug.
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| The per month dosage cost of Glivec for a cancer patient at a chronic stage is around Rs 1.10 lakh, while it is even higher for a patient at the blast stage wherein eight tablets need to be consumed in a day.
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| The programme was closed in May 2003 and currently, around 600 patients with certain forms of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are registered under the programme who receive Glivec free of cost. GIPAP is made available through The Max Foundation.
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| Ranjeet Shahani, vice-chairman and managing director of Novartis India, said: “We are reviewing the option of reopening the GIPAP scheme in India after having granted an exclusive marketing right for Glivec. We have, however, not taken a final decision.”
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| Novartis had discontinued the programme since generic imatinib products were available in India through other companies.
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| Hence, according to the company, it was also the responsibility of other manufacturers to ensure patient access to the drug in the country.
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| The other companies which manufacture and sell the generic imatinib product in India include Natco, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Ranbaxy, Cipla, Intas and Camlin Pharmaceuticals. Protection of intellectual property rights was the other critical issue.
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| In January 2003, Natco Pharma announced the launch in India of its generic imatinib under the brand Veenat in 100 mg capsules form followed by other. |
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