Sofosbuvir - EPO

On Sep 13, 2018 European Patent Office (EPO) maintained patent covering sofosbuvir compound in amended form after hearing in opposition proceedings.

According to news published, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF – Doctors Without Borders), announced the decision, said it “is gravely disappointed with the European Patent Office’s decision to uphold US pharmaceutical corporation Gilead’s Sciences’ patent related to the key hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir.” Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) along with 3 other parties filed post grant opposition to EP 2604620 patent in March 2017. EPO held oral proceeding on Sep 13, 2018 & maintained patent in amended form. EP’’620 is set to expire in Apr 2024. SPC has been filed in many countries & if granted would expire in Mar/Apr 2029.