Natco Pharma Ltd has been selected for the Patent Appreciation Award by the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.

The national level award would be given to the company at a function to be held at Mumbai on December 17, 2005Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra is expected to present the award, informs a company release.

The company has been selected for the award based on the patents that it obtained, viz. soft gel capsule resistant to gastric juices (EPO and Germany);.inhaler design (Canada and Japan); and improved processes for the preparation of high purity citalopram and curcumin.

Natco Pharma is the second company to have filed for the largest number of patents from South India, in the pharmaceutical segment.