In a move that can throw open big scope for the small and medium pharma players in the country and curtail the huge profit margins of multinational biggies, the World Health Organization is making an initiative called ‘patent pool’ to make drugs for neglected diseases affordable across the world.

To begin with, the WHO is looking to create the patent pool for AIDS/HIV drugs and later it would be expanded to cover TB and Malaria drugs. With Indian generic producers being key players in the scheme of things, the WHO is holding an informal technical consultation with lots of Indian companies here on June 23, it is learnt. Leading companies like Ranbaxy, Torrent, Jubilant, Strides Arcolab, Matrix, leaders of organizations like SPIC and IDMA, manufacturers from Thailand and Bangladesh are expected to attend the meeting.

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