Dutch government embarrassed over Rx drug seizure

The Netherlands' government has been embarrassed by the confiscation and eventual return of 500kg of the active ingredient for US drug major  Merck & Co's cardiovascular drug Cozaar (losartan), which was copied by  Indian generic manufacturer Dr Reddy's (Marketletter February 16). The  product was seized on the basis of an intellectual property rights  violation, despite the drug not enjoying patent protection in India or  Brazil, the countries of origin and destination, respectively, of the  shipment.