Chinese researchers have applied for a national patent on an experimental Gilead Sciences Inc. drug that they believe might fight the novel coronavirus. If the application succeeds, Gilead would need to get Chinese patent owners on board in sales of the drug for treating coronavirus infections outside China. The move may revive longstanding concerns about China’s respect for intellectual property rights. It’s not clear if or when China’s intellectual property authorities will approve the institute’s application. Filing of the patent application by a stakeholder in China, however, makes sense, according to Wang.

Source: National Post February 06, 2020 13:41 UTC