India has once again delivered a setback to global pharmaceutical major AbbVie after the company lost its attempt to secure patent protection for its Hepatitis C therapy in the country, a move that could strengthen access to affordable generic medicines.
As reported by India Pharma Outlook, the Indian Patent Office rejected AbbVie’s patent application related to the Hepatitis C drug combination glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, marketed globally as Mavyret/Maviret. The decision followed pre-grant oppositions that challenged the company’s claims and questioned whether the application met India’s patentability standards.
The ruling is being viewed as another important example of India’s strict approach toward secondary pharmaceutical patents, often referred to as “evergreening,” where companies seek extended exclusivity through modified formulations or incremental innovations.
The rejection may eventually allow Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers to introduce lower-cost generic versions of the therapy, potentially improving treatment accessibility for Hepatitis C patients in low and middle-income populations.
This is not the first time AbbVie has faced a patent setback in India. Earlier, the company also lost a patent battle involving its blood cancer drug venetoclax, opening the door for generic competition in one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets.
The latest Hepatitis C decision reinforces India’s long-standing position of balancing pharmaceutical innovation with public health priorities. Over the years, Indian patent authorities and courts have frequently scrutinized secondary patent applications filed by multinational drug companies, especially when such patents could delay the entry of generic medicines.
Industry experts believe these developments could intensify debates between multinational innovators and public health advocates over drug affordability, patent rights, and access to life-saving therapies in emerging economies.
