To put this in perspective, Novartis Glivec is the beta crystalline form of 'imatinib mesylate' - an already known compound which went out of patent. Novartis f

To put this in perspective, Novartis Glivec is the beta crystalline form of 'imatinib mesylate' - an already known compound which went out of patent. Novartis failed to establish that the new form has demonstrable efficacy over non-crystalline form. As per section 3 (d) of Indian Patent Law designed to prevent Evergreening - inventions that are mere "discovery" of a "new form" of a "known substance" and do not result in increased efficacy of that substance are not patentable. Indian patent law follows guidelines set forth by WTO under TRIPS agreement. So Novartis has exhausted all their legal defences. Novartis did not get even one favourable verdict in the entire legal battle which played out in 3 different courts of law.