EU Trade Politicians Consider Picking Up Pieces Of Trade Negotiations 02/06/2017 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European Union trade politicians and their counterparts from the United States need more time to consider next steps in their trade relations, EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said during a session with the trade committee of the European Parliament this week. At the same time, she reported that Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) negotiating partners have been turning to Europe to make headway. Meanwhile, former EU Justice Commissioner and member of the European Parliament, Viviane Reding, called for a counter-offensive to rising protectionism.
A Summary Of Key IP-Related Actions Taken By The 70th World Health Assembly 31/05/2017 by Catherine Saez and Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After what was described as the biggest World Health Assembly ever, with the highest number of agenda items and the highest attendance, it seemed that all’s well that ends well at the closing ceremony earlier today. A notable fact during this assembly has been the rising volume of voices from developing countries, joined by developed countries on issues related to access to affordable, safe, and efficacious medicines. Resolutions and decisions were adopted, many with hopes of better addressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, cancer, substandard and falsified medical products, medicines access and shortages and more.
Will The Money Keep Rolling?: Innovative Global Health Financing And Governance 26/05/2017 by Mara Pillinger for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment We are in a liminal moment for global health financing. The “golden age” of increasing donor funding is clearly over, arrested by the 2008 financial crisis. But while donor contributions are no longer climbing, they have not been falling, either. And it is possible this status quo will hold… But it’s equally possible that this is just the pause before the roller-coaster drops. Considering that Gavi, the Global Fund, and the World Bank will all be launching another replenishment round in 2019—and given the uncertainty surrounding US foreign aid commitments and post-polio financing—that drop may prove very steep indeed.
Head Of WHO Health Systems Lays Out IP Issues At WHA 26/05/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The annual World Health Assembly will address several issues related to intellectual property and innovation, Marie-Paule Kieny, assistant director-general for health systems and innovation at the World Health Organization, said in an interview this week. But a new initiative at WHO on fair pricing of medical products may not be among them in a significant way. [Update: the latest on the state of play on the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines is being provided in real time below.]
Decision On Pandemic Flu Framework At WHA: Look Closer At Changes 26/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A committee at the World Health Assembly yesterday decided to seek a closer look at consequences of potential changes to the WHO framework on pandemic influenza. The decision, still to be confirmed by the World Health Assembly, requires in-depth analysis of how to handle pandemic flu viruses under the framework, whether the framework should cover seasonal influenza, and whether the framework should become a specialised international instrument on access and benefit-sharing.
WIPO Launches Strategic Plan 2017-2021 For Re:Search Program 25/05/2017 by Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch and William New Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization this week has striven to show its commitment to contributing to the debate on intellectual property and health, and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, through advancement of its Re:Search program for the next five years.
Antimicrobial Resistance: PPPs The Way Forward, Speakers Say 25/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With global funding for research and development decreasing, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, ways to incentivise research are seen as key to solving the problem. Speakers at a side event to the World Health Assembly this week presented models of public and private partnerships to address the issue.
Speculation Rampant In Leadup To WHO Director General Election Today 23/05/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Speculation in the hallways of United Nations headquarters in Geneva was rampant in the days and hours leading up to this afternoon’s election of a new director general to lead the UN World Health Organization, but solid information about who will win was hard to come by. The outcome after a series votes is expected sometime tonight. Update! According to sources, the first round of voting is over. Results: Tedros 95, Nabarro 52, Nishtar 38. Second round update! Tedros 121, Nabarro 62. Third round underway.
US Supreme Court Puts New Limits On Patent Suits 23/05/2017 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Yesterday’s United States Supreme Court decision in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Food Brands Group followed some familiar trends in Supreme Court jurisprudence. It overturned long-established Federal Circuit law, restricted the power of patent owners, and handed a stinging defeat to so-called “patent trolls” (companies that make money primarily by licensing their patents and suing those who refuse to purchase licenses). The Court did all this by limiting where patent infringement suits can be filed – and thus significantly changing patent litigation in the US.
Coordinated Global Solution Needed To Ensure Universal Vaccine Supply, Speakers Say 19/05/2017 by Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Shortages of vaccines are a worldwide problem with tremendous impact on health, affecting countries of all income groups and regions, speakers said at a recent industry event. Different possible solutions for shortages of vaccines were suggested during the panel discussion.