WHA: Pandemic Flu Preparedness Framework Praised; Vaccine Production Still Short 26/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Adopted five years ago, the World Health Organization Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework is currently undergoing its first review. Member states gathered in committee at the World Health Assembly yesterday mostly expressed support for the framework, and took note of a report by the WHO secretariat.
Amending Pharmaceutical Industry Practices Can Build Trust, Panellists Say 26/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At a side event to this week’s World Health Assembly, GlaxoSmithKline detailed measures taken by the company to dispel the perception of conflict of interest, and build trust, including amending the ways its sales forces operate, and no longer paying speakers at scientific congresses, and said it wants to provide leadership on the issue. Patients and physicians associations call for mainstreaming those practices.
G7, In Japan, Put Their Heads Together Over Crises 26/05/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Eight ministerial meetings have prepared a fat stack of paper, the “sherpas” have nearly concluded their work, and civil society once more has passed its own resolution on how they propose to tackle the most daunting global problems. Now it’s time for the G7 leaders’ roundtables – and the photo ops in Ise-Shima, Japan. For two days, the heads of state of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States will talk on trade, foreign policy, climate change and energy. And maybe some digital, R&D and intellectual property issues.
Leaked EU Document Lays Out Major Evaluation Of EU Drug Pricing 25/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The 28 European Union member governments are preparing to request the European Commission to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the availability and affordability of EU medicinal products that could lead to changes in R&D and pricing models. An apparent first-of-its-kind, the assessment would look at market and data exclusivity, supplementary protection certificates, and intellectual property issues, according to an alleged copy of the draft Council conclusions obtained by Intellectual Property Watch.
European Commission Floats Broad Package Of Reforms For Digital Single Market 25/05/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission today unveiled a raft of strategies aimed at boosting the European Digital Single Market (DSM). Among them, the EC rejected the idea of imposing one-size-fits-all rules on online platforms but said it will consider sector-specific regulation to address specific problems relating to such platforms, including in the area of copyright.
Innovation And Access: Fission Or Fusion? Interview With Tim Wilsdon, CRA Vice President 25/05/2016 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the light of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, this series of sponsored articles challenges experts to give their views on the policies that best support the development of solutions to societies’ greatest challenges and how enabling policy environments, including IP systems, influence the development and flow of new technologies and services in different sectors, fields of technology, and jurisdictions. The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors. Below is an interview with Tim Wilsdon, Vice President, CRA.
Unaffordable Medicines Now Global Issue; System Needs Change, Panellists Say 25/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments At a side event to this week’s annual World Health Assembly, a member of the Netherlands Ministry of Health delivered an unexpected speech on access to medicines, calling for more clarity in the setting of medicine prices, looking inside and outside of the patent system for solutions, and praising de-linkage. Other panellists viewed partnerships as a key ingredient to fill research and development gaps. And a representative from the Gates Foundation advised against a hasty switch to new system.
Countries ‘Disappointed’ With WHO Reform Progress 25/05/2016 by Mara Pillinger for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization secretariat this week reported to its member states on progress made in implementing sweeping programmatic, governance, and management reforms. The report? WHO has made progress, but there is still a long way to go. Member states, meanwhile, used the opportunity to express concern about the way it is going.
WHO Engagement With Outside Actors: Delegates Tight-Lipped, Civil Society Worried 24/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments This week, country delegates meeting at the annual World Health Assembly are expected to come to an agreement on a framework managing the UN World Health Organization’s relationship with outside actors, such as the private sector, philanthropic organisations and civil society groups.
Transition Of Core Internet Functions (IANA) Oversight From US Government No Done Deal 24/05/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Will the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) be able to handover oversight over the management of the DNS root zone and other core databases of the internet in September? At a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington today, proponents and opponents showed off and Senator Marco Rubio, former presidential candidate, strongly […]