Patent Oversight Addressed: No Punitive Action Against Bharat Biotech for Covaxin Credit Omission

Union Health Minister J P Nadda clarified in Lok Sabha that Bharat Biotech initially failed to list ICMR and NIV as co-inventors in the Covaxin patent application. After government objections, the correction was made. He also mentioned that ICMR received Rs 172 crore in royalties for Covaxin.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda stated on Friday that Bharat Biotech initially omitted ICMR and NIV as co-inventors in the Covaxin patent application. This application was corrected after the government raised objections.

Covaxin, a widely used Covid vaccine, was jointly developed by ICMR, NIV, and Bharat Biotech. Speaking during Question Hour in Lok Sabha, Nadda confirmed that ICMR received around Rs 172 crore as royalty from Bharat Biotech.

In response to Trinamool Congress member Sougata Roy's inquiry about punitive action against the company, Nadda detailed the events. He emphasized the existence of a joint MoU for Covaxin's development and explained the correction came after the government and ICMR noticed the omission. The inadvertent exclusion was acknowledged by Bharat Biotech, which has now filed a correction with the patents office.

(With inputs from agencies.)