The Dolcera Blog

The Dolcera Sequence Dashboard video demo is available on YouTube now. Here is the link.

The goal of this study was to find the patents published on Neem (Azadirachta indica) and its various compositions (utilizing Neem as an addivite with other chemicals or natural products) since January 2006 in India and the USA, and see if the Indian private and government sectors had woken up to the new age ‘land grab’ opportunities provided through patenting Neem. The second goal was then to drill down deep into the patents to find out the application areas covered.

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. In East Africa it is also known as Mwarobaini (Swahili), which means the tree of the 40, as it is said to treat 40 different diseases. Traditional uses of Neem 1. Neem acts as anti bacterial, anti parasitic, anti fungal, anti protozoal and anti viral thus helps in protection from all the microorganisms, which are always ready to invade in our body causing serious ailments. 2. Local application of neem powder or neem oil has miraculous results. As it is a famous anti microbial herb, it renders all the microorganisms inactive therefore helping in proper healing of wound without causing any infections and septic conditions. 3. Taking bath of neem leaves water is a very common sight in Indian homes that helps our body to counter mild infections, which our body might get in day-to-day activity. 4. Its tropical application makes us relieved from acne, eczema and even ringworms. 5. In skin related diseases, neem works as blessing of God on mankind. It has an action on almost every kind of skin disease thus making its indication in eradicating every kind of itch, rash, infection and allergy. 6. Neem water is extensively used in burn injuries, thus to protect them from any kind of infection and also promote healing. 7. Neem oil is extensively used in hair fall and early graying of hairs with very satisfying results. It also find its application in dandruff and in lice growth.. 8. Its local application on arthritic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and musculo skeletal pains is highly recommended with good results. Source

Dolcera Analysis

1. Top Assignees in India and US on Neem patents: We analyzed a total of 98 relevant patents published in India on Neem and 78 relevant patents published in US on Neem from 2006 to 27th June 2009.

Top Assignees Vs Number of Publications in India

Top Assignees Vs Number of Publications in US

A. One can observe from the above graph that CSIR is the leading assignee in both US and in India. It means that considerable research on Neem is being carried out by CSIR. B. In India, CSIR is being followed by Kalyani Chemicals, Indian council for agriculture result (ICAR), Godrej agrovet, Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). C. In US, CSIR (India) remains the top filler followed by UOP LLC and Syngenta Corp protection Inc.

2. Applications of Neem on which Indian and US assignees filled patents: Next, we compared the Applications of neem for which the patents are sought in both US and India.

Indian assignees (Application area Vs. No. of patents)

US assignees (Application area Vs. No. of patents)

A. The major application of neem in most of the publication is on Pest control. B. Indian publication concentrates on the medicinal aspects of neem whereas US publications concentrates mostly on the insect repellant property of neem. C. Indian assignees have patented use of Neem for its medicinal benefits such as for wound healing, wound coating, diabetes, HIV/ Aids and skin care. D. US assignees looked more interested in the areas such as Biodesel production, fertilizers, dental formulations, food packaging, cosmetics and Pharmaceutical compositions.

3. Sector wise distribution for Indian patents on Neem We tried to find out the major contribution of various sectors in publishing patents on neem and found that individual Application of patents has major part in the distribution of publication on neem in India followed by the private sectors and then the government.

Sector wise distribution on Neem patenting in India

Neem patent in India are mostly held by individuals, 41.84% followed by private sectors, 31.63%. Government institutes lagged behind all and retain only 26.53% patents on India’s traditional asset, Neem.

4. Dolcera Conclusion Indians have always cherished their traditional knowledge, heritage and culture. Neem is one such heritage and an integral part of our socio-economical culture. From times immemorial Neem has found use as an intergradient in Indian culinary, as a medicine for cure of several allergies/diseases and in various religious ceremonies across the country. Time and again there has been a hue and cry to stop other countries from patenting this age old Indian knowledge of Neem. This study, is aimed to answer the key question Are Indians holding an upper hand, legally too, on Neem usage? Comparing the trend of patent filing in India and US between 2006 to June 2009, we can safely conclude that India as a whole has risen up to the expectations and has filled 98 patents on technology surrounding Neem. CSIR (India) played a key role here in India as well as in US to remain as top assignee in the terms of number of patent fillings on application of Neem. However, the complete picture can be alarming. Figure this, despite CSIR remaining as the top assignee, patents on Neem in India are mostly held by individuals (41.84%), followed by private sector, 31.63%. Government institutes (which included CSIR, DRDO, ICAR, IIHR etc) lagged behind all and retain only 26.53% of patents on India’s traditional asset. While Indians have used Neem for its medicinal benefits such as for wound healing, diabetes, HIV/ Aids and skin care; US assignees looked more interested in the areas such as Biodesel production, fertilizers, dental formulations, food packaging, pharmaceutical compositions etc. This study was aimed to gain in depth insight of patenting trends on Neem in India and US. Waking up to the cause, India has done well to broadly cover the Neem application areas but the efforts should increase exponentially to retain the legal rights on Neem, the gift of nature to India. - Lakshmikant Goenka MD, Dolcera AND -Anil Sharma Knowledge Scientist AND - Harit Mohan Knowledge Scientist DISCLAIMER: Above study was conducted using the Indian patent search database provided by the Indian patent office and Micropat. The study was a broad level search and we might have missed out on few patents. The analysis is prone to human errors and can have marginal errors. Dolcera holds all rights on this publication and it should not be used without the consent of authors and the company.

© Dolcera, All rights reserved, 2009

Tweet  Delicious  Digg  Facebook 

An important issue in the field of patenting Biotech inventions is the patenting of Genes or seeds/plant material. Pharmaceutical and agri-bio industries favor and want gene patents for commercial returns and to invest the time and money needed to develop gene-based drugs or biotech crops. On the other hand, the patenting on genes and seeds might lead to costlier medicines/treatment of some diseases and the seeds/plant material might become inaccessible to the poor again due to the high expenses.

In July 2002, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics published its report, “The Ethics of Patenting DNA.” approving to patent of genes but subject to rigorous tests of patentability including novelty, inventiveness, and usefulness.

Further the council recommended that the claim for DNA sequences to be used as research tools should be hindered and that gene patents should not extend to gene therapy- Inserting a normal gene / correcting or replacing the faulty gene should be considered obvious and hence not patentable.

In September 2002, Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), set up by the British government’s Department for International Development, published its report, “Integrating Intellectual Property Rights and Development Policy.” Concluding the regime of gene patenting and other expansions in practice of Intellectual property would not be beneficial to developing nations raising the price of medicine and other amenities and further accentuating poverty.

The importance of the matter however lies in the crucial understanding and practice of patent rights which are subject to monopoly rights and dissemination of knowledge at the same time.

Edited from Sue Mayer (Director of GeneWatch UK) opinion on Source

- Priyanka Goyal

Tweet  Delicious  Digg  Facebook 

The issue of how to treat intellectual property rights (IPR) of green technologies and who is going to pay the incremental cost of moving to them has been a bone of contention at climate treaty meets for years, and has reared its head again at the June 1-12 talks here that are a preparation to the climate summit in Copenhagen this December.

India has said each industrialized country should pay 0.8 percent of its GDP to developing countries in reparation for putting greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.

Given the urgency of combating climate change, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on green technologies should not be allowed to stand in the way. This view has been put forward under the present UN negotiations in Bonn by members of India’s delegation, newKerala.com reports.

According to the news site, India views the IPR situation for green technologies in line with drugs for HIV/AIDS treatment. For a number of years developing countries severely struck by the disease were disputing pharmaceutical companies over the cost of the products. Industry was reluctant to lower prices, arguing that it needed to be rewarded for IPR, as otherwise companies would loose motivation for innovation in new drugs. Finally a solution was found in the form of an international fund to compensate industry. Similarly, India wants “a global fund that could buy out IPRs of green technologies, and then distribute these technologies free, in a way that is similar to what is done for HIV/AIDS drugs.”

India said: “The technology framework must enable support for short-term, medium-term and longer-term technologies. There is a need for a hard look at IPRs to ensure that technology transfer is accelerated especially in areas where there are cartels.”

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the delegates told newKerala.com that they have made a solution to the IPR issues a condition for allowing for inspection of emission reduction projects in their country. Several developed countries have called for projects in developing countries that are funded in part by international sources to be measurable, reportable and verifiable – in practice meaning subject to inspection.

- Biplab Dey
Knowledge Scientist-Biotech, Dolcera

Source

Tweet  Delicious  Digg  Facebook