By Kaustubh Kulkarni and Henry Foy MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's move to strip German drugmaker Bayer of its exclusive rights to a cancer drug has set a precedent that could extend to other treatments, including modern HIV/AIDS drugs, in a major blow to global pharmaceutical firms, experts say. On Monday, the Indian Patent Office effectively ended Bayer's monopoly for its Nexavar drug and issued its first-ever compulsory license allowing local generic maker Natco Pharma to make and sell the drug cheaply in India. It is only the second time a nation has issued a compulsory license for a cancer drug after Thailand did so on four drugs between 2006 and 2008, also on affordability grounds. Thailand also issued licenses for HIV/AIDS and heart disease treatments. "This could well be the first of many compulsory rulings here," said Gopakumar G. Nair, head of patent law firm Gopakumar Nair Associates and former president of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association. "Global pharmaceutical manufacturers are likely to be worried as a result ... given that the wording in India's Patent Act that had been amended from 'reasonably priced' to 'reasonably affordable priced' has come into play now." The new wording is seen as a … Continue reading →

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, arrested and later bailed 'My child has been victimised', said one mother By Nick Enoch PUBLISHED: 05:58 EST, 13 March 2012 | UPDATED: 08:31 EST, 13 March 2012 Police carried out strip searches on ten male students at a school in Derbyshire after receiving a tip-off that they were smuggling drugs in their underwear. The incident happened at John Port School, in Etwall - an academy judged as 'outstanding' by Ofsted. Officers said they found drugs hidden in the underpants of two pupils, aged 15 and 16. Ten male students were strip-searched by police at John Port School, in Etwall - an academy judged as 'outstanding' by Ofsted The teens were both arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and later bailed pending the results of forensic tests. The pair have also been suspended by the school, until the completion of the Derbyshire Police investigation as part of John Port's 'zero tolerance drugs policy'. It is the largest school in Derbyshire, with 2,000 pupils. Original post: 'Drugs found hidden in pupils' underwear' during strip search at 'outstanding' school … Continue reading →

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS The drug problem in Noordgesig has even infected schools. Drugs are causing havoc in Noordgesig where the problem has even infected schools. At Noordgesig Senior Secondary School, only four out of 30 pupils who were randomly selected for drug testing last month tested negative. The rest tested positive for substances like tik, heroin, crack cocaine and nyaope. Teachers blame the many drug peddlers operating in the township and the lack of decisive action by the police. The whole community is drug infested, said a senior teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said that when police last conducted a raid at the school in November, two pupils were found with drugs. In the past two years we have witnessed a disturbing increase in drug abuse cases at the school. It was never like this before and we appeal to members of the community to join in the fight against drug abuse. What kind of community is this when children are allowed to dabble in drugs? Another teacher said it was imperative for residents to get involved. He said he was shocked when a group of parents protested at the school gates last year when police raided the school. … Continue reading →

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's move to strip German drugmaker Bayer of its exclusive rights to a cancer drug has set a precedent that could extend to other treatments, including modern HIV/AIDS drugs, in a major blow to global pharmaceutical firms, experts say. On Monday, the Indian Patent Office effectively ended Bayer's monopoly for its Nexavar drug and issued its first-ever compulsory license allowing local generic maker Natco Pharma to make and sell the drug cheaply in India. It is only the second time a nation has issued a compulsory license for a cancer drug after Thailand did so on four drugs between 2006 and 2008, also on affordability grounds. Thailand also issued licenses for HIV/AIDS and heart disease treatments. "This could well be the first of many compulsory rulings here," said Gopakumar G. Nair, head of patent law firm Gopakumar Nair Associates and former president of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association. "Global pharmaceutical manufacturers are likely to be worried as a result ... given that the wording in India's Patent Act that had been amended from 'reasonably priced' to 'reasonably affordable priced' has come into play now." The new wording is seen as a lower threshold for compulsory licenses, which … Continue reading →