WHO Issues Guideline For Manufacturers Of Generic Hepatitis C Medicine 02/04/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Health Organization has issued a guidance document on the design of bioequivalence studies for a leading hepatitis C medicine. Generic drug companies seeking prequalification by the WHO need to demonstrate that their generic version is equivalent to the originator drug.
Supplier of Essential Medicines Supports TRIPS Waiver For Least-Developed Countries 30/03/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The IDA Foundation, a worldwide supplier of essential medicines to low-and medium income countries, has backed the request by least-developed countries to extend a waiver that allows them to forfeit the obligations to protect intellectual property on pharmaceutical products. UNITAID, the UN-related drug purchasing mechanism, also issued a statement in support of the extension. The request is expected to be discussed at the World Trade Organization in June.
Indian Draft Pesticides Bill Contains TRIPS-Plus Data Exclusivity, Indian Pharma Says 26/03/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments India is considering legislation on pesticides containing data exclusivity provisions that would raise the level of intellectual property protection above the minimum required by international trade agreements and could act as a precursor for pharmaceutical products in the country, a leading Indian industry representative warned this week. India is sensitive to restrictions on the use of marketing data of patented pharmaceuticals as it is seen as the world leader in generic medicines, which use such data.
Open Source Model In Computers Should Be Applied To Genomic Data, Paper Says 22/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Genomic data should be made publicly available for the promotion of science as a global public good, a new paper argues. Two researchers suggest that a model inspired by the open-source computer software movement should be developed for plant breeding, animal breeding, and biomedicine.
Redesign Of Ebola Treatment Units Draws 1500 Innovations, Including Locally 16/03/2015 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments KAMPALA, UGANDA – In light of the persistence of the Ebola outbreak and the demands it has placed on global infection containment resources and processes, the United States government disaster response community recognised an opportunity to use open innovation to make significant strides in advancing the ability to combat Ebola. The results include a local success story.
Global Fund Publishes Terms Of Reference Of Equitable Access Initiative 02/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An initiative spearheaded by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to ensure equitable access to medicines in particular in middle-income countries now has a dedicated webpage publishing the terms of reference of the initiative. Also available is the list of high-level participants who attended the first meeting of the initiative held last week.
At EPO, Patent Oppositions To High-Priced Gilead Hepatitis C Drug Pile Up 27/02/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment According to a public health advocacy group, there are now as many as 10 oppositions filed at the European Patent Office against the Gilead company’s patent on sofosbuvir, a treatment for hepatitis C. The group has compiled a table showing the filings with links to the documents.
Why The Request By Least Developed Countries For An Extension Of The Transitional Period For Granting And Enforcing Medicines Patents Needs To Be Supported 27/02/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Ellen ‘t Hoen writes: On 24 February 2015 Bangladesh on behalf of the 34 Least Developed Country members (LDCs) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) submitted a request for an extension of the transitional period under article 66.1 TRIPS with respect to pharmaceutical products until the country is no longer classified as LDC.[1] The original extension, set to expire on 1st January 2016, specifically removes the obligation for LDCs to comply with Section 5 (Patents) and Section 7 (Protection of Undisclosed Information) of Part II of TRIPS, including any obligation to enforce rights under these provisions. It is a little known fact that since the adoption of the 2001 Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, LDCs have frequently used the extension in day-to-day procurement of low cost generic medicines, in particular to access medicines needed for the treatment of HIV.
South Africa Awaits Patent Reforms With Hope, Concern 27/02/2015 by Munyaradzi Makoni for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s new policy on patents could go to the Cabinet for approval soon, says Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), one of the organisations spearheading the Fix the Patent Laws campaign in the country.
Ebola Crisis Has Severe Impact On AIDS Response In Sierra Leone, UNDP Report Says 27/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment According to an internal report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Fund Partnership team, the Ebola epidemic has virtually halted national HIV efforts in Sierra Leone. In particular, patients stopped their treatments and the supply chain was disrupted.