Argentina Chamber of Deputies approves Patent Cooperation Treaty accession

The Argentine Chamber of Deputies has approved the country's accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) with a vote of 147 in favor and 93 against. The treaty aims to unify and streamline the process for protecting inventions internationally.

Following a modification introduced in the lower house, the project must return to the Senate for final ratification. A specific reservation was added at the request of national laboratories, allowing the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) to utilize non-binding technical reports from foreign patent offices to assist in evaluating new inventions.

The Chamber of Pharmaceutical Laboratories (CILFA) opposed the measure, expressing concerns that relying on foreign criteria could facilitate the approval of patents for minor modifications to existing drugs. Opponents argue this could delay the availability of generic medicines, reduce competition, and increase drug prices. Conversely, supporters of the bill stated that the PCT does not grant international patents or limit national sovereignty, as each country retains the authority to decide which innovations to approve.