Patent reform, cheaper drugs for US in talks

As trade negotiations between India and the US move towards finalization, the pharmaceutical sector is at the heart of a significant give-and-take between the two countries.

- Priyanka Sharma & Dhirendra Kumar

NEW DELHI:

According to two people familiar with the matter, India's proposals include supply of low-cost complex generic medicines at reduced costs, patent reforms to allow earlier entry of generics in the US, increased US-based manufacturing by Indian pharma firms of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and fixed dosage forms (FDFs) and tariff exemptions for life-saving and critical medicines imported to India from the US.

An API is the main component of a drug (think paracetamol), while an FDF is a combination of two or more APIs in one drug, like a tablet with both paracetamol and ibuprofen.