HYDERABAD: Blood cancer patient M Srinivas, 38, is battling for life at a city hospital in Tarnaka after a life-saving drug, Dasatinib, was taken off the shelves recently, thanks to a bitter battle between a multinational and a Hyderabad-based pharma company over patent rights.

Days after Swiss drug maker Novartis AG lost its attempt to patent its cancer drug Glivec, dealing a blow to foreign drug manufacturers targeting Indian market , city oncologists said a similar, but different war on patent rights is taking its toll on thousands of blood cancer patients across the country.

Dasatinib, a crucial generic cancer drug was pulled out of the market three months ago after a global pharma major Bristol Myers Squibb's (BMS) alleged that it's a copy of their patented anti-cancer drug Sprycel.

Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma had launched Dasatinib in mid-2012, at a whopping 94% discount at Rs 9,000 (cost per month) as against BMS' price of Rs 1.60 lakh. But Natco was barred from selling the drug by the Delhi High Court and the next hearing is scheduled in mid-May.

"The difficulty is that many poor patients, who are on the drug, may die because of its non-availability. These patients cannot afford the expensive branded drug," said Dr Raghunadha Rao, medical oncologist, NIMS.

Rao has 25 patients who are dependent on Dasatinib, and most cannot afford expensive drugs.

E Raju, 18, who is among Dr Rao's several patients said he has approached the state human rights commission (SHRC) on this issue.

"I used the drug for six months and all my health problems were treated. I was feeling near normalcy but now I can feel my condition is deteriorating. I am suffering from stomach pain, infections, weakness and fever," said Raju, who has discontinued his studies due to his ill health.

While BMS is said to be giving subsidy to "deserving" patients by reducing the drug cost substantially to Rs 15,000, Raju says with a family income of Rs 11,000 per month, his father cannot afford the branded drug even after it is subsidised.

"Even after the subsidy, it is still too expensive for many patients. If the tablet is not taken daily, in about three months, the disease will resurface. At the moment, we can treat it up to a level where no test can detect the disease which is called molecular remission," said Dr Rao.

R Ramnath, whose wife R Saraswati is a blood cancer patient, said her platelet count and haemoglobin levels have fallen drastically ever since she stopped taking the drug.

According to Ramnath, his wife took the medication for around eight months and could not get the pills for the last three months. "She is vomiting, bleeding and has infections," said a distraught Ramnath, a businessman and native of from Adilabad.

Dr T Kannan, director, MNJ Cancer Hospital, feared there will be progression of the disease and life expectancy will get shortened. He has around five patients who are on Dasatinib.

Doctors said generic versions should be made available but innovators should also get their due. "Generic versions are welcome within the gamut of laws. We have to give the due to the innovator also," said Dr Senthil Rajappa, medical oncologist, Indo American Cancer Hospital.

