Groups Seek Assurance Of Affordable Zika Vaccine From US Army Exclusive Licence 19/01/2017 by Kim Treanor for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A range of civil society organisations have issued a public statement opposing the United States Army’s proposed grant of an exclusive licence on technology necessary to produce a Zika vaccine to French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. The letter cites concerns that the exclusive licence might violate US law and could lead to high priced medicines as consumers buy back taxpayer-funded research.
Industry Initiative Against Non-Communicable Diseases Launched At WEF 19/01/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Nearly two dozen top biopharmaceutical companies have launched a global initiative intended to increase access to prevention and care of non-transmitted diseases in low and lower-middle income countries.
Achieving SDG Health Targets Using ‘The Vital Role Of Law’ 18/01/2017 by Peter Kenny for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Effective laws, including those around intellectual property rights, and an enabling legal environment, are as essential to a healthy society as clean water, a group made up of a representative of the World Health Organization, academics and a legal expert for a civil society group, have asserted while launching a key report.
WHO Board Meeting Playbook: Election Of New DG, Antimicrobial Resistance, Genetic Sequence Data 17/01/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Although the main governing body of the World Health Organization is the annual World Health Assembly held in May, many decisions are made at the annual January session of the WHO Executive Board. Among the topics to be discussed next week are the election of a new director general, antimicrobial resistance, the financing of research and development for health products.
Nagoya Protocol Implications For Health, Flu Genetic Data On WHO Board Agenda 17/01/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Health Organization recently published its analysis about the public health implications of the Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources access and benefit-sharing, and in particular how it affects the sharing of pathogens, like influenza viruses. The findings are set to be discussed at this month’s WHO Executive Board meeting. Also to be discussed is an experts group review of the WHO pandemic influenza framework, and in particular its conclusion that the framework should be amended to match scientific progress.
New Book Highlights IP Trade Law Flexibilities For Public Health 16/01/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A recently published book by a high-impact public health advocate provides new analysis on the use of flexibilities in international trade law relating to intellectual property rights aimed at advancing discussions on solutions to high drug prices worldwide.
Expensive Medicines Increase The Pressure 09/01/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment When Gilead brought its new antiviral medicine – Sovaldi – for the treatment of Hepatitis C to the US market for USD 84,000, it triggered a storm of protest. Demand for this revolutionary treatment was so high that the price (despite reductions) became an enormous burden on the American healthcare system. Although the product is cheaper in Switzerland at CHF 48 307, treatment is rationed for reasons of cost.
Book Review: A Look At Antitrust Issues In Intellectual Property Law 09/01/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The book Antitrust Issues in Intellectual Property Law, edited by Bradford Lyerla and authored by several lawyers, is about the intersection of IP law and antitrust law and collects case law from 2015 and 20152016??, dealing with the issue.
Top IP-Watch Stories Of 2016 Reflect Cutting Edge Issues, Lingering Concerns 05/01/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Hundreds of thousands of people visited articles on Intellectual Property Watch last year, and we published nearly 1,000 original articles. The year’s most-visited articles reflected a mix of new ideas and policies worldwide and some recurring issues, with especially heavy attention on stories involving India.
US Food And Drug Administration Issues Equivalence Guideline For Biosimilars Producers 05/01/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Biotherapeutic medicines are made out of living organisms and cannot be replicated. No generic medicines, which are exact copies of the reference product, can be made. The generic equivalent of a biotherapeutic would be biosimilars, which are highly similar products. The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a guide to help producers to prove how close their biosimilars are to the biotherapeutics.