Move Toward New Pan-African IP Organisation Alarms Observers 27/09/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A seemingly remote African Union proposal to create a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization appears to have gained momentum and will come before African science and technology ministers for review in early November, according to sources. A copy of the final draft statutes shows how the new body would operate, and for some observers, how it would elevate African IP standards well above current levels, with “disastrous consequences” for access, development, and human rights.
India: Balancing Public And Private Interests In The Intellectual Property Regime 18/09/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments NEW DELHI – In this month, there have been two court orders in India that underscore the complexities underlying the country’s intellectual property regime. Last Friday (14 September), the Chennai-based Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) which is responsible for hearing appeals on patent applications, rejected a petition by German pharma major Bayer AG, seeking a stay on an order of India’s Controller of Patents granting a compulsory licence (CL) to Indian generic drug maker Natco Pharma Limited, for a drug used to treat liver and kidney cancer.
IFPMA Report, Panel, Examine Rise Of Industry Global Health Partnerships 12/09/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report commissioned by international pharmaceutical industry released yesterday offers findings and recommendations based on study of 200 global health partnerships aimed at low- and middle-income countries. The report was released at a panel discussion of a range of health experts who highlighted work to date and upcoming needs in the area of global health partnerships.
Silberschmidt To Join WHO As Senior Adviser To Director General 30/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Gaudenz Silberschmidt, head of international affairs in Switzerland’s public health office for the past decade, has been nominated to become senior adviser in the World Health Organization Office of the Director-General. He will have a special focus on the reform process taking place at the cash-strapped UN agency.
WIPO Drug Research Project Strikes First Agreements 29/08/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Intellectual Property Organization project aimed at expanding research on diseases occurring predominately in developing countries using IP-protected material has announced its first research agreements.
Novartis Challenge To India Patent Law Put Off To 11 September 22/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Supreme Court of India today did not get to an agenda item involving a challenge to India’s patent law by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, and it is now scheduled to come up on 11 September. The case is considered to have potential widespread impact on the production of lower priced generic medicines.
MSF: India’s Bayer-Natco Compulsory Licence Case Set For 3 Sept. 21/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A hearing in a case involving a challenge by Bayer pharmaceutical company of India’s compulsory licence aimed at making a cancer drug more affordable is moved to 3 September, public health advocacy group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced today.
Health Advocates Eye Proposed Changes To Patent Law In South Africa 20/08/2012 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments CAPE TOWN – South African health activists and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders are keeping close watch over the government’s attempts to amend patent laws, which activists claim compromise the ability of the country’s poor majority to access cheaper generic medicines.
WHO Hopes For “Domino Effect” Of Australian Ruling In Favour Of Tobacco Plain Packaging 15/08/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The director of the World Health Organization, the global public health body, today vigorously applauded the ruling by Australia’s high court upholding the Australian government’s upcoming ban on trademarked labels on tobacco packages. The case pits international trade interests against public health interests, and the WHO said it hopes today’s ruling will have a “domino effect” for many other countries considering such bans.
A Look At India’s Key Pharmaceutical Patent Case 07/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This month, the Indian Supreme Court will hear final arguments in a challenge by the pharmaceutical company Novartis against the Indian Patent Office’s rejection of a patent for the leukemia drug, Glivec. The Court’s ruling will have profound implications for pharmaceutical patenting in India, and more generally how countries with newly introduced pharmaceutical patent regimes […]