Natco Pharma Ltd.

The Bombay High Court has upheld the compulsory license (CL) granted Natco Pharma on Nexavar (sorafenib tosylate) of German drug major Bayer’s patented kidney cancer drug.

The Nexavar issue dates back to March 9, 2012, when the then Controller General of Patents issued the first-ever CL to the company to manufacture an affordable generic version of sorafenib tosylate, the anti-cancer drug for which Bayer had obtained a patent.

Natco Pharma was promoted as a private company to be in the business of research, developing, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical substances and finished dosage forms for Indian and International markets.