WIPO Patent Law Committee Agrees On Studies, Seminars, Website Updates 01/02/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee this week bridged significant differences and agreed on a range of activities for future work, each with their own goals for the international patent system in mind.
MSF: AstraZeneca Pullout Of Neglected Disease R&D Proof System Broken 31/01/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Following news reports that pharmaceutical producer AstraZeneca will end its spending on early stage research and development for tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, Médecins Sans Frontières issued a statement saying the move is further proof that substantive change to the global pharmaceutical R&D system is needed.
New Study Makes Case for Innovative Medicines 31/01/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new pharmaceutical industry-backed study draws attention to the value of innovative medicines in reducing healthcare costs and to the wider society that goes beyond clinical and personal values. However, in middle income countries, national prioritisation and improvements in healthcare infrastructure are needed to maximise the value of medicinal innovation, the study found.
At WIPO, Global Experts Share Experiences On Open Collaboration 29/01/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The recent World Intellectual Property Organization Conference on Open Innovation: Collaborative Projects and the Future of Knowledge showed the potential of open collaborative innovation in confronting some of today’s greatest challenges. This model of innovation is used in industries ranging from health research and solutions to climate change to film production and museum design.
In State Of The Union, Obama Highlights Need For Patent Reform, Trade 29/01/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In the annual State of the Union speech of the United States president to Congress last night, President Obama described an innovation race, and highlighted the importance of trade agreements and passage of patent reform legislation.
At WIPO, Nations See Different Needs From Patent System 27/01/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An important international platform that has seen stark differences in the past, the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) began a weeklong meeting today on improving the patent system with parties promoting their own interests and asking straightforward questions of others.
WHO Sets Path For Model R&D Projects For Developing Countries 25/01/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Members of the World Health Organization Executive Board this week moved forward on the long path to new ways to spur research and development for diseases that mainly afflict poor populations. A process has been set for considering – and potentially choosing among – eight projects before the annual World Health Assembly in May.
WHO Board Adopts Resolution On Medicines Access After TRIPS Flexibilities Debate 25/01/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The sometimes tense issue of intellectual property rights flexibilities built into international trade rules on IP briefly threatened to trip up a proposal on access to medicines today at the World Health Organization. But members managed to steer the debate to consensus on a text that will now head to the full membership for approval in May.
WHO Chief: No Government Should Be Intimidated For Doing “Right Thing” In Public Health 24/01/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Discussions on access to essential medicines yesterday at the World Health Organization were in some ways overshadowed by the recent leak of a global pharmaceutical campaign aimed at derailing efforts by the South African government to revise its intellectual property policy. WHO Director General Margaret Chan strongly supported South Africa, as did several developing countries, while developed countries remained silent on the subject.
Global Health 2035 Report: Flawed Projections 23/01/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Daniele Dionisio writes: Hopes that a comprehensive global health goal could be reached by 2035 are hardly credible with the load of unresolved issues still on the table. This article turns the spotlight on much-debated relevant questions that were left out or under-scrutinised in a recently published Lancet report.