Indian Patent Office rejects patent for six‑month drug‑resistant TB regimen

The Indian Patent Office on Tuesday turned down the patent application for <b>BPaL</b>, a three‑drug combo that slashes drug‑resistant tuberculosis treatment to <b>six months</b>. The decision highlights a sluggish system that stalls life‑saving innovations, despite mounting pressure from global health bodies. Bureaucratic inertia, not scientific merit, often dictates outcomes, leaving patients to wait for cheaper, proven regimens. The patent office’s refusal also underscores the gap between policy promises and on‑ground delivery. Patients across India will continue to rely on existing, longer therapies, delaying faster cures.