India’s IP Policies: Still Much Room for Improvement

PhRMA Associate Vice President Amiee Aloi testified on May 5 before a U.S. International Trade Commission hearing examining the progress India is making to address relevant industrial trade and investment policies.

With hopes that all involved parties recognize how essential the collaboration between U.S. and India is to the biopharmaceutical industry, PhRMA encourages the U.S. government to continue constructive dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address intellectual property issues that directly impact both countries.

India is an essential market for America’s biopharmaceutical companies, and many of our members have a long history of serving Indian patients and consumers. Toward that end, working with Prime Minister Modi’s government is a critical part of achieving goals aimed to benefit both India and the U.S. by opening new windows of opportunity through consistent enforcement and application of global IP norms.

There is still more work to be done to prevent future uncertainty and eliminate existing roadblocks that hinder the development of new and lifesaving medicines in India. Whether through the reestablishment of the Trade Policy Forum or crafting a better approach to implementing and enforcing intellectual property policies, our government and our industry are committed partners to finding a path forward. Yet while Mr. Modi’s government has taken steps to address concerns in other industries, foreign biopharmaceutical companies still face significant barriers to entry in the Indian market.

Intellectual property protections are a vitally important mechanism to spur medical breakthroughs that save the lives of patients around the world. By working more closely with Prime Minister Modi and the government of India, increased collaboration will foster better understanding of how an efficient IP system encourages investments in new medicines and medical devices that can improve healthcare worldwide. However, it remains incumbent upon the Prime Minister to demonstrate a willingness to engage on these issues at a level that has yet to be seen. If our two countries can get on the same page and maximize the potential of the U.S.-India relationship, both our patients and our economies stand to reap the benefits.