India's Supreme Court has rejected a plea by Novartis to patent an updated version of its cancer drug, Glivec…on the grounds that the new version was only slightly different from the old…"This ruling is a setback for patients that will hinder medical progress for diseases without effective treatment options," said [the] vice-chairman and managing director of Novartis India…[T]here have been concerns that if firms are granted patents for updated versions of their drugs, it may not only deny access to cheaper medicines to poor people, but also hurt the makers of generic drugs.[A] lawyer for the Indian generic drug manufacturer Cipla, said the ruling had set a precedent that would prevent international pharmaceutical companies from obtaining fresh patents in India on updated versions of existing drugs…