India has revoked Pfizer Inc.’s local patent for its cancer drug Sutent after hearing a pre-grant opposition filed by generic drug maker Cipla Ltd. Cipla and a few other local drug makers, including Natco Pharma Ltd, had opposed the Indian patent for Sutent, a liver and kidney cancer drug sold by Pfizer worldwide. The drug, known as Sunitinib in generic terms, was developed by US drug makers Sugen Inc. and Pharmacia and Upjohn Co. and licensed to Pfizer for marketing it globally. The drug was granted a patent in India in 2007. Cipla opposed the patent grant the following year.
