Bharat biotech acknowledges oversight, promises to include ICMR in Covaxin patent filings
New Delhi: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited, the manufacturer behind India's Covaxin, issued a statement addressing an "inadvertent mistake" in its patent filings related to the COVID-19 vaccine. The company admitted to not crediting the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as a co-owner in patent applications filed in India, the United States, and Europe. This development contradicted earlier claims by the Union health ministry that intellectual property rights to Covaxin were jointly owned.
In response to a report by The Hindu, which highlighted the omission, Bharat Biotech clarified that it holds great respect for ICMR and values their ongoing support. The company assured that steps were immediately taken to rectify the oversight by preparing to include ICMR as a co-owner in fresh patent filings.
According to Bharat Biotech, challenges during the vaccine's development led to rushed filings to secure patents ahead of competitors and data publications. The company cited these circumstances as contributing factors to the initial exclusion of ICMR from the patent applications.
Despite earlier explanations suggesting a different ownership structure, Bharat Biotech emphasized that the necessary legal documents are being prepared to acknowledge ICMR's role accurately.
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Navdeep Singh's silver upgraded to gold in men's javelin throw F41 at Paralympics
Paris, Sep 7: India's Navdeep Singh's silver medal was upgraded to gold after Iran's Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified following a dramatic men's javelin throw F41 final at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday.
This is India's first-ever gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category.
Starting the competition with a foul, the 23-year-old para-athlete from Haryana, who had finished fourth at the Tokyo Games three years ago, came up with a throw of 46.39 metres in his second attempt, propelling him to the second place. But it was his third throw that electrified the stadium.
With a monstrous throw of 47.32 metres, Navdeep shattered the Paralympic record and surged into lead, only for Sadegh to better the Indian's mark and clinch the gold with a record-breaking effort of 47.64 metres in his fifth attempt.
However, the Iranian was disqualified some time after the end of the final, leading to the Indian athlete taking the top spot.
The F41 category is for athletes, who are of short stature.
