Once again, Gilead Sciences (GILD) has suffered a setback in Brazil: A court suspended a key patent in trying to resolve a confusing turn of events between government agencies that may affect access to hepatitis C treatments and intellectual property rights.
Earlier this week, a federal judge granted an injunction on an exclusivity patent for Sovaldi, which forms the linchpin for combination hepatitis C treatments sold by Gilead, and ordered the government patent office to revise its decision. The ruling reportedly came after a presidential candidate filed a request asking that the patent be overturned.
“This patent removal is a legitimate act of defense for the life of those who are in line for an extremely expensive treatment,” center-left candidate Marina Silva reportedly said.
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