First directory of pharmaceutical patents

Malta Enterprise yesterday launched the island's first pharmaceutical patent directory.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech hailed the move, saying the directory would serve as another tool in the marketing efforts to promote Malta as an ideal and investor-friendly pharmaceutical base.

Speaking during a business breakfast, Godwin Warr, director general of the ministry's commerce division, said patenting - in which there was minimal local interest until 2000 - had put the island in a very attractive position for the generic pharmaceutical industry.

Generic drugs are produced by second companies after the original patent, belonging to the company which created the drug, has expired. They are meant to be identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy and intended use as the original drugs but are less expensive.

Mr Warr said that in 2007 Malta joined the European Patent Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty, which meant pharmaceutical patents coming to Malta underwent expert examination by the European Patent Office.

Mr Fenech said the pharmaceutical industry enjoyed effective legislation and a well trained workforce, adding that the government was seeking to refine these skills within the workforce.

"We are also taking proactive action to ensure a steady supply of trained individuals," he said, adding that last year more than 325 students graduated in a science field from both the University and the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology.

He said it was high time the industry and the education sector worked hand in hand to achieve common goals which would help the country progress.