Different sections of the pharma industry have reacted differently on the reported withdrawal of Dr Mashelkar committee report by Dr Mashelkar himself on February 21. While some multinational companies chose to remain mum on the subject, Indian companies and its associations by and large welcomed the decision of the eminent scientist who wrote a letter to the government to redraft the report on the plea that his report was plagiarised.
Reacting to the new development, Nicholas Piramal director (strategic alliances and communications) Swati A Piramal said the TEG had given a narrow scope on the topic, and they have done it with utmost sincerity. According to known factors, the issue is that somebody in the TEG has scribed some points from another text without attributing the source. Even it does not affect the broader point of dimension of the issue.
"I think the committee will correct this flaw in the new report. There was lack of definition in some of the terms like efficacy, but the report has opened up a good opportunity for us to discuss various aspects of this important topic. I think the report suggested that the Indian science should not be limited in the name of incremental innovation and the research activities conducted by Indian scientists should be recognised," Swati Piramal, who is also the vice president, Assocham, said.
Refusing to be dragged into any controversy, Cipla chairman and managing director Dr Y K Hamied said, "the matter speaks about itself and I don't want to comment on it."
In his reaction, Novartis India vice chairman & managing director Ranjit Shahani said, "We have just learned from press articles that the Mashelkar Committee report was withdrawn, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on this action or on any potential impact it may or may not have on the legal case challenging the denial of our patent application for Glivec or section 3(d) of the Indian patent law".
"We are seeking clarity about India's patent laws. Knowing if we can rely on patents in India is good for government, industry and patients because research-based organizations will know if investing in better medicines for India is a viable long-term option. Respect for intellectual property will strengthen, not weaken, the Indian economy, helping India reach its aspiration to expand its research-based pharmaceutical industry," Shahani said.
In her rather sharp reaction to the withdrawal of the report, Biocon chairman and managing director Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said, it is a serious blow to the Indian pharma sector. "Indian pharma industry is not clear how to play its role. The sector is caught between opportunities in innovation and their inherent strengths in generics. This attitude is not according to the TRIPS in its entirety. At some point of time, the sector needs to safeguard innovative research," Dr Shaw in her statement said.
Dr Mashelkar's approach was to pursue innovation on a global platform to allow Indian pharma sector to compete in a TRIPS compliant environment. This is vital going by the opportunities in research process outsourcing and contract research. The industry should comprehend that incremental innovation is permissible. But it is unfortunate that the lobby in India is only looking at affordability more than achievability. This push and pull attitude has disillusioned him.
The end-result is that Dr Mashelkar is becoming a scapegoat because of the industry allegations and the NGO's stand on the patent objection that he is supporting the multinational companies, which is untrue. He is a victim of circumstances, stated Dr Shaw regretted.
Biocon is on the side of Dr Mashelkar and believes that it is vital to be on one side of the fence rather than on the top of it and industry cannot be neither here nor there over such an issue of innovation. "We have always supported innovation which is a critical component for survival and success in the Patent Regime. Innovation has led Biocon to charter novel formulations pathways," she stated.
However, it will take some time for the Indian pharma sector to boldly recommend Mashelkar report. "The government cannot harp over the fact that we are a poor country. Drug costs only constitute 15 percent of the overall healthcare costs. It is diagnostics and hospitalisation which is far more expensive. The country is not does not have a right perception of innovation that is a critical component in the global markets which is the reality. The e vested interests in the have beaten the need for innovation.
The report withdrawal will give a negative image for India in an era of globalisation where innovation is imperative for growth, said Dr Shaw.