<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true">The Delhi High Court dismissed an appeal for a patent on an intermediate compound under Section 3(d), sparking debate on innovation stifling.The Court held that for patent protection, an intermediate compound must enhance the 'therapeutic efficacy' of the final drug.Concerns were raised that the ruling could discourage innovation in drug manufacturing processes.The Court emphasized on proving the therapeutic efficacy over prior art to satisfy Section 3(d) requirements.It was argued that the Court's test for efficacy overlooked the efficiency contributions of intermediate compounds.The ruling may impact manufacturing processes that optimize costs and time efficiency but not therapeutic efficacy.The potential evergreening risks of patenting intermediate compounds were discussed.The ruling aimed to curb evergreening tactics but might restrict genuine innovation.The Court's decision highlighted the need for a review of how efficacy is evaluated in patent law.Determining the significant improvements in the manufacturing process remains a key criterion for patent eligibility.