WIPO-WTO-WHO Joint Symposium On Medical Innovation In July

Three Geneva-based international organisations are continuing their collaboration on issues of health and innovation policy as it cuts across intellectual property rights by planning a 5 July symposium on “changing business models” in medical innovation.

The day-long trilateral symposium is the third sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization and World Health Organization. Speakers include WIPO Director General Francis Gurry, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, and WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy. They will be joined by Seth Berkley, the CEO of the GAVI Alliance and other panellists.

The event ostensibly will cover the many complex issues under negotiation and practice related to this topic, including changes in industry and public policymaking. This includes years-old efforts to find ways to create incentives for research and development of treatments for neglected diseases, those disproportionately afflicting poor populations, for which the market incentive does not work.

The event will be held at WIPO. More details are available here.