The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has invited nomination for patent awards from all the pharmaceutical manufacturing firms and research institutes across the country.

As part of its 5th edition of patent awards, the Council is seeking nominations for patent awards from all the pharma companies both from LSM and SME categories. The council is inviting applications under seven product groups which include Bulk drugs and APIs, formulations, biotech products and genomics. Nominations under herbal/ASU/nutraceuticals, medical devices/surgical/diagnostics, NCEs/drug discovery and other categories like excipients are also invited to claim for patent awards.  

“All the companies who have secured patents for their innovative products during April 2012 to March 2013 are eligible to take part in this patent awards. All the applicants need to submit the details of their products and patent information to the concerned authorities at the council on or before 20th August 2014,” informed Dr PV Appaji, Director General of Pharmexcil.

The Council has also constituted an expert panel to assess the applications of all the nominees and based on their recommendations the final awards will be declared, informed Appaji.

Members who have secured patents from any patent granting authority in the financial year 2013-14 can apply for the awards. Those members who have been granted patents by other countries need to submit their claim in a specialised format and need to send the soft and hard copies to the council’s office before the final date.

The main aim of Pharmexcil patent awards is to encourage entrepreneurs and industry to carry out new research and develop innovative drugs to cure deadly diseases prevailing in the society.

Stressing on research and development, Dr. Appaji said, “Innovative thinking and continuous research in pharma and biotechnology is the only way for India to compete in the international market and achieve sustainable growth in the future.”