Attempts to patent inappropriate innovations in the country have met with opposition. In May 2006, drug major Glaxo filed a patent application in Kolkata for hiv drug Combivir, which was a combination of Lamivudine and Zidovudine. The company withdrew the application following opposition from human rights organisations like the Indian Network for people living with HIV/AIDS and the Manipur Network of Positive People.

A similar move by the US-based drug company Gilead was also challenged at the Delhi patent court. The company applied for patent on AIDS drug Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate which will cost, for a year, US $5,718. Its generic version produced by Cipla costs about us $820. The case is pending.

Last year Roche got a patent for a new Hepatitis C drug that costs us $5,000 for six month's treatment. A post-grant opposition has been filed.