Argentina flexibilized its regulation on pharmaceutical patents, eliminating a set of restrictions on foreign products that existed since 2012 and opening the door to imports. On Wednesday, the Argentine government overturned a 2012 resolution that established how pharmaceutical patents are analyzed and approved. The change means there will no longer be restrictions on certain categories of pharmaceutical and biotechnological products, which till now could only be patented by Argentine companies. The international pharmaceutical sector reportedly complained that the norm allowed for the proliferation of copycat products patented in Argentina. Deregulation minister Federico Sturzenegger, who was behind the decision, said on X that it represents “a transcendental improvement regarding intellectual property” in Argentina.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald March 19, 2026 18:07 UTC