China has apparently negotiated a shorter patent protection period for new biologic drugs from the US, according to anonymous sources. New US biologics will have only eight years of protection under the new trade agreement, much shorter than the 12 years that is the rule in the US. The trade deal is still in negotiations, but US officials do not appear to be eager to fight for a longer exclusivity period. When pharma companies heard about the change, they complained. Reportedly, trade officials said the only alternative was no patent protection at all for new biologic drugs.
Source: China Biotoday
