Report Finds Wide Gap In Pharma Companies’ Profits And Spending On R&D 03/04/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new report from Public Citizen, the US-based consumer rights advocacy group, shows that the 20 largest pharmaceutical corporations are spending significantly less on research and development of new medicines than they are making in profits.
WIPO Committee Moves Ahead On Country Names, Tech Designs, Not GIs 03/04/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Establishing a work programme on geographical indications at the World Intellectual Property Organization last week proved elusive. A tentative text and time frame by the chair of the committee on trademark and geographical indications (GIs) issued on the last day of the committee did not meet the approval of some member states. The committee did agree on a set of tasks for the WIPO secretariat on the protection of country names against registration as trademarks, and on the protection of new technological designs, such as icons and type fonts.
Special Report: Will The Internet Of Things Need New Patenting/Licensing Strategies? 03/04/2017 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Internet of Things (IoT), which will connect billions of devices in coming years, may offer incredible opportunities for businesses and consumers but it also raises significant intellectual property issues, IP lawyers, mobile operators and others say. One key question is whether patenting and licensing strategies will have to change to adapt to the myriad standards being developed and patents being sought for IoT products and services, and for the coming rollout of 5G technologies.
Report: Market Share Of Orphan Drugs Could Top 20 Percent Of Global Market By 2022 03/04/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new industry report shows that the average prices for orphan drugs are increasing and are projected to comprise more than 20 percent of the patented pharmaceutical sales market by 2022.
France Reaches Agreement With Gilead To Drop Prices Of Hepatitis C Treatment 31/03/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The French Ministry of Social Affairs and Health announced today that the ministry has negotiated with pharmaceutical company Gilead to bring down the prices of hepatitis C medicines.
NGOs Detail Changes For Public Health In RCEP Asian Trade Pact 31/03/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Concerns continue to grow among civil society about provisions in a major trade agreement in the Asian region. Of specific worry is the intellectual property chapter containing in particular a data exclusivity clause, and the linkage between the investment chapter and the IP chapter.
Funding Injection For New Antibiotics: The CARB-X Transatlantic Partnership 30/03/2017 by Kim Treanor for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A partnership of government agencies and organisations in the United States and United Kingdom have announced an investment of up to US$48 million into the development of new antibiotics and products to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria, with the aim of having two new antibiotics in human trials in the next five years.
WTO Job Opening For Legal Analyst On TRIPS Agreement 30/03/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization has issued a call to hire a legal analyst specialised on intellectual property law, including the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
17 Civil Society Groups Urge EU To Support WHO Resolution On Cancer 30/03/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A range of civil society organisations today issued a letter to European Union leadership urging support for a World Health Organization resolution that mandates a feasibility study on a fund for cancer research and development that delinks R&D costs from the price of health technologies.
USPTO Director Lee Emerges From Silence, Praises Latin America For Joining Patenting Scheme 29/03/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Michelle Lee, today resurfaced after weeks of silence, speaking after the trilateral meeting of the US, European and Japan patent offices. Among her remarks was praise for Latin American countries for joining the Patent Prosecution Highway, which she said has already resulted in much faster patents in the region.