Chidambaram, Gopal Subramanium in Novartis v. Ranbaxy; Ranbaxy injuncted from producing anti diabetes drug

The Delhi High Court yesterday restrained Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. from manufacturing and selling anti-diabetes medicine Vildagliptin in a suit filed by Swiss drug maker Novartis, reports Mint.

Senior Advocate and former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium appeared for Novartis while Senior Advocate and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram represented Ranbaxy.

The interim order was passed by Justice GP Mittal.

Interestingly, Ranbaxy has not started manufacturing the drug in question but is only “proposing” to manufacture the drug when the High Court interfered to restrain it. Ranbaxy has, however, filed an application before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board seeking revocation of Novartis’ patent. The court, in its order, recorded the same to attribute to Ranbaxy the intention to manufacture the medicine.

As per the report, the Court has also said that its observations on the matter are “tentative” due to the fact the Ranbaxy has not started manufacturing the drug.

The case will now be heard on October 28.

Novartis had earlier obtained injunctions against generic drug makers such as Wockhardt and Zee Laboratories for Vildagliptin.

Image of  P Chidambaram taken from here.