The Supreme Court has appointed Dr P C Chakraborti as a new technical member to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) to consider the Novartis appeal against the rejection of the Glivec beta patent by the Indian Patent Office.

This move is the outcome of the Supreme Court's view that a new technical member has to be appointed to the IPAB to consider the Novartis appeal against the rejection of the Glivec beta patent by the Indian Patent Office.

"Novartis is pleased with the appointment of the new technical member Dr P C Chakraborti and looks forward to a timely review of the case before the IPAB. The Supreme Court has directed the IPAB to list the matter for hearing on November 3, 2008 to decide further course of action. The Court has further directed the IPAB to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis," said, Ranjit Shahani, vice chairman and managing director, Novartis India Limited.

"Natco was the only party to disagree with the Government of India's proposal to have a two-member Intellectual Patent Appellate Board panel to hear the case. The IPAB hearing on the denial of a patent for Glivec (imatinib mesylate) beta form was delayed pending the Court's decision on the Natco petition. Nevertheless, we have confidence in the Indian legal system," he added.