India’s Patent Office has ended exclusive rights to a cancerdrug made by German manufacturer Bayer, setting a precedent that could extendto other treatments, including HIV/AIDS drugs, The Times of India reports.After ending Bayer’s monopoly, the patent office issued its first-ever compulsorylicense allowing a local manufacturer of generic meds to make and sell thedrug. This is only the second time a nation has issued a compulsory license fora cancer drug. Thailand did so on four drugs between 2006 and 2008, also onaffordability grounds. Compulsory licenses can be issued under world traderules by nations that deem lifesaving drugs too expensive; the licenses allow forlocal manufacture or importation of cheaper, generic versions.  

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