The Intellectual Property Facilitation Center (IPFACE), Venture Center & IP Group, NCL Innovations, Gnanlex Hermeneutics and Gopakumar Nair Associates to organise a one day seminar on current themes in pharma patenting with an aim to overview and insights on recent developments in patent law and practice of relevance to the pharma industry and research. The seminar will be held at Venture Center, Pune on June 20, 2015.

The aim of the seminar is to have an overview of the key aspects and trends in pharmaceutical industry in view of the recent decisions and policy making for the protection of Intellectual Property and also tapping on international  Intellectual property protection scenario in light of the USPTO guidelines on natural products, shift in business decision making and adequate exploitation of patent rights and how MNC’s develop an IP strategy for their business and seek to integrate it within their overall business strategy.

The seminar will be divided into 4 sessions which cover topics like Introduction and overview of current trends, Recent case studies relating exclusion categories in the Indian Patent Law, Guidelines for examination of patent applications in the Field of pharmaceuticals, Compulsory licensing, National IP policy and its implications, Recent FDA decisions on regulatory exclusivities, Rationale and implications, Patentable subject matter at USPTO, What are the strategies that MNC’s are following if  they do not get their patents granted and settlements in drug patent litigation Sovaldi Case Study

The seminar will address various speakers Andreya Fernandes, IP/Patent and legal associate at Gopakumar Nair Associates; Gopakumar Nair, founder, Gopakumar Nair Associates; Ashutosh Prachand, Jr. IP Associate , IP Facilitation Center at Venture Center; Nitin Tewari, scientist, IP Group and NCL Innovations; Amarendra Samal, Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs CGPDTM, Mumbai and many more.

Intellectual property rights (IPR) in the pharma domain have been an argumentative issue globally. Previously, the IPR debates were typically between the branded pharma companies and generic pharma companies. India was no exception to this IPR battle and in view of the large poor population in need of its basic healthcare; the Indian authorities were initially not keen on granting substantial IPR protection. However, over a period of time, the Indian authorities have become more sensitized to the need and importance of IPR protection for the long-term good of industry.