CBD Issues Study On Challenges For Benefit-Sharing Of Digital Genetic Information 26/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The UN Convention on Biological Diversity has issued the results of a fact-finding study on genetic resources digital genetic information. The study particularly examined terminology and how digital genetic information are influencing its protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources. The study called for policymakers to stay abreast of the profound developments shaping research today, and underlined challenges such as the identification of contributors and users, the provenance of sequences, and what the study defined as a “grey area” between non-commercial and commercial research.
New Text Shows Progress Of Negotiation On IP And Access At WHO 25/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Brazilian ambassador and others this morning at the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting were not going to let go of what seemed to be a delaying tactic by the United States and Japan to postpone agreement on the implementation of measures aimed at facilitating research and development and access to medicines. The WHO Board today is considering a set of streamlined strategic measures on public health, innovation, and intellectual property.
WHO Board Shows Resolve In Tackling Shortages, Access To Medicines, Vaccines 25/01/2018 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The members of the World Health Organization Executive Board tonight (24 January) agreed to create a roadmap on global shortages of, and access to, medicines and vaccines. WHO members proclaimed the urgent need to address prices and availability of safe and efficient medicines and vaccines, some requesting the recently elected director general of the organisation to help find solutions.
ITU: 4 Of 5 People In LDCs Can Access Mobile Networks, But Are Not Using Internet 24/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report by the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows “great strides” in mobile phone penetration in least-developed countries. However, those countries are well behind developed countries when it comes to internet usage.
WHO Members Set To Debate Transparency Of R&D Costs 24/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization Executive Board members and observer countries today are preparing to discuss recommendations on ways to lower prices and make medicines more accessible. This includes a new proposal to increase transparency in research and development costs that is reportedly causing concern among some developed countries.
New Project To Sequence Genes Of Amazon Biodiversity, Enforce Benefit Sharing, Announced At Davos 24/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new partnership announced at the World Economic Forum this week plans to sequence the genome of all biodiversity in the Amazon basin and make sure that benefits from the commercialisation of products derived from this mapping are fairly and equitably shared.
Antimicrobial Benchmark For Industry Launched In Davos 23/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Across the Alps from this week’s World Health Organization Executive Board meeting, the first ever antimicrobial resistance benchmark was launched today at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.
Three New Draft Proposals At WHO: Shortages, Snakebite, Assistive Technology 23/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Three new draft proposals at the World Health Organization Executive Board this week underline the importance of access and affordability, whether it is vaccines and medicines, including antivenoms, or assistive technology. The draft resolutions call on member states as well as the WHO secretariat to urgently take action to facilitate access to products and technologies at affordable prices.
New WHO Director Calls On Board To Join In “Intensive” Period Of Change 22/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment All human beings should receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship, such is the definition of universal health coverage, a key point of discussion at the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting this week. New WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Dr Tedros) opened the event by presenting his vision for the future, and the collective work to accomplish necessary changes to the UN health agency. The European Union and United States warned against politicisation of the WHO.
Moving Landscape In The IP World – Organisations, Industry, Law Firms 19/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The end of 2017 and start of 2018 brought a lot of changes in the global intellectual property arena. The World Health Organization underwent major changes in its leadership following a new head elected in May, UNAIDS has a new deputy executive director, the World Intellectual Property Organization is seeking a new leader of its Global Challenges division, and the Board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers decided on a number of appointments. The European Patent Office elected a new president, and the industry world also saw its share of changes. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations welcomed some new faces, and the head of the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry is changing. Law firms saw a high level of revolving chair movements, and promotions of attorneys to partners.