The Participation of Pharmaceutical Drug Industry in Patent Governance and Law-Making: A Case Study of India and Nigeria

This paper traces the participation of pharmaceutical drug manufacturers in patent governance and law-making in India and Nigeria. It also highlights the complex interrelationship between state and private actors involved in IP knowledge governance. To do this, it provides an analysis of how both Indian and Nigerian drug makers participate in, and engage with patent discourse. In unpacking the aforementioned engagements, the paper finds that various government policies in India enabled the growth of the sector, which further propelled the participation of indigenous drug makers in patent law and development. Conversely, the paper found that a series of policies by the Nigerian government incapacitated the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector, which weakened the ability of the sector to participate in patent law-making and governance.