Ranbaxy files 240 patents, tops list from third world

Domestic pharma giant Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has topped the list of companies from the third world in filing patents for 240 products. The move assumes significance as the product patent regime is coming into force next month. These patents have been filed over a timeframe of around two years.

According to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) database, Indian drug companies have filed around 4,200 applications. Of these, 55 per cent are for pharmaceutical innovations. Ranbaxy has filed 239 patent applications, of which 122 are for derivates, formulations, compositions and new dosage forms. Hyderabad-based pharma major Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, with over 100 drug patent applications, comes a distant second to Ranbaxy.

Mumbai-based Sun Pharmaceuticals has also filed around 100 applications in the PCT. Cipla Ltd, one of the leading drug firms in India, has filed around 50 applications. Cipla’s move assumes significance as the company has been opposing the patent regime and has argued for an extension to 2016 of the 2005 deadline.