Global Fund Publishes Terms Of Reference Of Equitable Access Initiative02/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAn initiative spearheaded by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to ensure equitable access to medicines in particular in middle-income countries now has a dedicated webpage publishing the terms of reference of the initiative. Also available is the list of high-level participants who attended the first meeting of the initiative held last week.
Design Law Seminar In Geneva Discusses Current Issues And Concerns02/03/2015 by Elena Bourtchouladze for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentExperts gathered in Geneva recently to discuss current issues and future developments in the protection of industrial designs and its importance, and give practical advice on suitable ways to protect and enforce the design rights.
At EPO, Patent Oppositions To High-Priced Gilead Hepatitis C Drug Pile Up27/02/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAccording to a public health advocacy group, there are now as many as 10 oppositions filed at the European Patent Office against the Gilead company’s patent on sofosbuvir, a treatment for hepatitis C. The group has compiled a table showing the filings with links to the documents.
Why The Request By Least Developed Countries For An Extension Of The Transitional Period For Granting And Enforcing Medicines Patents Needs To Be Supported27/02/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentEllen ‘t Hoen writes: On 24 February 2015 Bangladesh on behalf of the 34 Least Developed Country members (LDCs) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) submitted a request for an extension of the transitional period under article 66.1 TRIPS with respect to pharmaceutical products until the country is no longer classified as LDC.[1] The original extension, set to expire on 1st January 2016, specifically removes the obligation for LDCs to comply with Section 5 (Patents) and Section 7 (Protection of Undisclosed Information) of Part II of TRIPS, including any obligation to enforce rights under these provisions.It is a little known fact that since the adoption of the 2001 Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, LDCs have frequently used the extension in day-to-day procurement of low cost generic medicines, in particular to access medicines needed for the treatment of HIV.
South Africa Awaits Patent Reforms With Hope, Concern27/02/2015 by Munyaradzi Makoni for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentCAPE TOWN – South Africa’s new policy on patents could go to the Cabinet for approval soon, says Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), one of the organisations spearheading the Fix the Patent Laws campaign in the country.
Ebola Crisis Has Severe Impact On AIDS Response In Sierra Leone, UNDP Report Says27/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAccording to an internal report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Fund Partnership team, the Ebola epidemic has virtually halted national HIV efforts in Sierra Leone. In particular, patients stopped their treatments and the supply chain was disrupted.
UK To Revamp Law On “Groundless Threats” Of Infringement Suits26/02/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentRecommendations for key reforms to laws against “groundless threats” of infringement lawsuits in patent, trademark and design rights cases won general UK government backing today. IP lawyers said the government’s stance will go far toward resolving longstanding concerns.
WTO Least-Developed Countries Request Waiver Of IP Rights On Pharma Products25/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsThis week at the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee meeting, least-developed countries submitted a request to extend a waiver allowing them not to enforce intellectual property rights on pharmaceutical products. The countries have extended the waiver before, but this time they are seeking to make it indefinite, until they are no longer considered LDCs.
New Quiet Initiative To Improve Drug Access In Middle-Income Countries, Change Country Classification System25/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsThis week a confidential high-level expert meeting was convened in Geneva to start work on a potential change in the country classification used by global health actors to remedy the growing problem of access to medicines in middle-income countries.
Medicines Patent Pool Nails Down Another Key Paediatric Drug24/02/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe Medicines Patent Pool today announced it has struck a licence with MSD, the North American-based Merck pharmaceutical company, to boost access to and innovation on raltegravir, a child-approved HIV medicine. The outcome is particularly significant because it opens options for very young children.