EU Parliament Approves Cross-Border Online Paid Content 18/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Parliament today adopted the Portability Regulation by a margin of 586 to 34 votes with 6 abstentions. The new EU regulation will allow the cross-border use of online paid content which so far was hampered by geoblocking. Users now can access their Netflix, Sky Go or similar subscription services when roaming in the EU. But the regulation will not really end geoblocking, warned the minority opposed to the regulation, as Pirate Party Member Julia Reda.
US Renegotiation Of NAFTA To Include IP Rights, Digital Trade 18/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Newly confirmed United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer issued a letter to Congress today stating that he will lead a renegotiation of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. And the changes will include new provisions on intellectual property rights and digital trade.
March-in Rights: A Lost Opportunity To Lower US Drug Prices 18/05/2017 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 17 Comments It appears not just unfair, but absurdly so. The US government paid for research that produced a patented drug, the patents were licensed exclusively to a Japanese firm, and that firm is now committing price discrimination against the US. Astellas Pharma is selling its anti-prostate cancer drug, Xtandi, for over $129,000 per year per patient in the United States – triple the price of the drug in Japan. Alas, this situation is not unusual. Many drugs that were financed by US taxpayers are sold in the US at exorbitant prices, but are much cheaper in other high-income industrialized nations. This differential price problem could be solved easily. However, the US government has consistently refused to exercise its march-in rights in order to lower drug prices.
Major Research Funders, Institutions Pledge Transparency In Clinical Trials 18/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment More transparency on clinical trials is expected after major research funders, research institutions, and international health groups agreed that the research they fund or support will publicly release results of clinical trials.
New Industry Alliance Aimed At Antimicrobial Resistance 18/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Pharmaceutical industry representatives today announced a new alliance to fight antimicrobial resistance. The announcement came during a meeting of the private sector of the most advanced countries.
Attacks On WHO Candidate Are Defamatory, ‘Colonial’, Ambassador Says 17/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The African Union delegation to the United Nations came in outspoken numbers to a press briefing today to express unshakable support for the Ethiopian candidate to be the next head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
IFPMA Priorities At WHA: Election, Antibiotics, Cancer, Pandemics 17/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The new head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) has hit the ground running in Geneva, and is weighing in on a variety of policy issues, this week providing a list of priorities for the research-based pharma industry at the upcoming annual World Health Assembly.
World Health Assembly Topic: Pandemic Flu Financing, Virus Sharing, Extension 17/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There are many who see the World Health Organization mechanism to prepare and face the next influenza pandemic and insure availability of treatments as a success. However, some questions remain.
IP-Watch Guide To 2017 World Health Assembly: Election, Budget, Antibiotics, Cancer, R&D And More 16/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In a few days, the 70th World Health Assembly will open its doors in Geneva with a marathon agenda, and over 4,000 registered delegates. The election of a new director general, the approval of the budget for the next biennium (2018/2019) are set to capture the attention of member states. However, many other subjects require their consideration, such as a resolution on cancer treatment costs, research and development for epidemic diseases, for new antibiotics, for medicines affecting primarily poor populations, access to medicines, and the influenza pandemic preparedness framework.
Investor-State Provisions Mean EU Cannot Conclude Singapore Trade Deal Alone, EU Court Says 16/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Union free trade agreement with Singapore cannot be concluded by the European Union alone, at least not in its current form, according to an opinion (2/2015, ECLI:EU:C:2016:992) handed down by the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg earlier today.