International Instrument On Medical R&D Still On Negotiating Table At WHO 28/11/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization member states gathering this week at the WHO headquarters in a meeting to address global gaps in the drug development system said that there is still much work to be done before consensus can be reached on a resolution. For now, the latest draft resolution keeps a wide range of monitoring, coordinating, and financing options on the table, not yet setting a clear direction.
WHO Members Meet This Week To Address Global Gaps In Medical R&D 25/11/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization member states and official non-governmental observers will gather at the WHO headquarters this week for an open-ended meeting to analyse the feasibility of new models for financing research and development for diseases lacking sufficient market incentives and public policies.
WHO Members Agree On Roadmap To Fight Poor Quality Medicines 22/11/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The first meeting of the World Health Organization mechanism intended to promote the prevention and control of “substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit” (SSFFC) medical products is being called a success. Member states agreed on a work plan that focuses on strengthening regulatory capacities and decided to form a steering committee to monitor country compliance to the plan.
Global Fund Names Mark Dybul Executive Director 15/11/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria appointed Ambassador Mark Dybul, a former US Global AIDS Coordinator, as the new head of the organisation. Additionally, the Board decided to move forward on implementing a new funding model, replacing the rounds-based system.
Recent Research Highlights Potential Of Open Access In Drug Discovery 14/11/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced the identification of three potential drug classes for the treatment of neglected tropical diseases through the availability of hundreds of compounds in the public domain.
WHO Negotiations On Global Monitoring Framework Seen As Success In Non-Communicable Disease Fight 09/11/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization members this week achieved consensus on a set of voluntary targets and indicators for the prevention and control of the world’s biggest killers including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases. Two targets and several indicators relate to national health systems response.
WHO Member States Hammering Out Details On Non-Communicable Diseases 23/10/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In a single voice, public health authorities spoke out about the need to take on the world’s heaviest disease burdens including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases. Now negotiations are narrowing in on the specifics of how to prevent and control these diseases, and achieving agreement on some commitments, including those related to medicine availability, could prove more challenging.
New WHO Mechanism Against Poor Quality Medicines To Convene In Buenos Aires 16/10/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The first meeting of the World Health Organization member state mechanism to prevent and control so-called substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified, and counterfeit medical products (SSFFC) will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 19-21 November.
Global Fund Nears Selection Of New Director For Transformed Organisation 15/10/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is in the final phases of selecting its next executive director. In the run-up to the decision, the international financing institution is multiplying signs of its good health as it looks to turn a corner after months of major reforms.
At WHO, Pharma Suggests Payment Plan For Influenza Virus Use 08/10/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization advisory group on pandemic influenza preparedness met with pharmaceutical industry representatives, civil society members, and other stakeholders last week to move toward a recommendation on a partnership contribution formula to determine payment modalities for influenza virus sharing.