India denied the patent for Pfizer on tofacitinib (a rheumatoid arthritis drug). The reason cited was the inability of the company to establish a more active therapeutic efficacy than the active compound.

In a case reflecting the sorry state of affairs with respect to patent prosecution in India, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) had set aside the order passed by the Delhi Patent Office refusing patent to Pfizer’s anti-psychotic drug. Pfizer’s patent application (No. 1154/DEL/1997) was directed to Ziprasidone mesylate trihydrate for treatment of psychotic disorders....