The tour of European countries with SPCs continues. this time reaching Italy: the country with the exceptionally long SPCs which are still alive and well.Right: Italy leading the pack
As most seasoned readers will be aware, the Certificati Complementari di Protezione (CCP) were introduced in Italy first via Italian law by law number 349/91 (October 1991), and were subsequently replaced by European Regulation 1768/92 (2 January 1993).
The intial Italian CCPs provided for a maximum duration of protection of a whopping 18 years from the date on which the patent reaches the end of its life. It is estimated that between October 1991 and January 1993 roughly 400 active compounds received CCP protection and roughly 190 are still in force. The last CCPs are expected to expire in 2011. Omeprazole still appears to benefit from a CCP (which is set to expire in 2010).
Information on deposited and granted SPCs can be obtained from this website on the website of the Italian Patent Office, unfortunately all in Italian.
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