INPI Argentina Removes Restrictions on the Examination of Pharmaceutical Patents

This decision is a concrete step toward Argentina’s full integration into the international trade and investment system. It also reflects the national government’s intention to honor its commitments, bring order to the regulatory framework, and ensure that the State’s technical institutions operate with the autonomy and rigor granted to them by law.

Under the new framework, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) will examine each patent application individually, applying the general criteria established by patent law, without the additional restrictions previously imposed by the 2012 guidelines.

The measure is part of the trade agreement signed with the United States in February 2026 and responds to observations made in the Special 301 Report on intellectual property. The measure does not affect the rights of those currently marketing or manufacturing medicinal products.