Recently, the Indian patent office rejected Pfizer's claim for a patent on its kidney and liver cancer drug Sunitib. The ruling is effectively in the favor of Cipla, allowing it to manufacture the generic version of the same.

Earlier in September 2012, the Supreme Court had revoked a patent held by Sugen (now Pfizer) for its drug Sunitib, citing the absence of any inventive step, that is not obvious to a person skilled in the art.  The revocation was closely followed by another High Court order banning Cipla from producing the drug, who produces a much cheaper version. This order was eventually stayed by the Supreme court. Then, in November the Supreme Court ruled that the Pfizer- Cipla Sunitib case be re-examined by the assistant controller of patents at the Patent office.

According to newspaper reports, the patent office reiterated its earlier judgement of backing Cipla, in a case that has been closely watched by the pharmaceutical lobby worldwide.With the patent office now upholding earlier decisions in favor of the generics giant, all eyes are on other eagerly awaited verdicts in the pharma space such as the Novartis Glivec case.