WHO Members Set To Debate Transparency Of R&D Costs 24/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization Executive Board members and observer countries today are preparing to discuss recommendations on ways to lower prices and make medicines more accessible. This includes a new proposal to increase transparency in research and development costs that is reportedly causing concern among some developed countries.
Antimicrobial Benchmark For Industry Launched In Davos 23/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Across the Alps from this week’s World Health Organization Executive Board meeting, the first ever antimicrobial resistance benchmark was launched today at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.
WTO, WHO, WIPO Symposium To Look At Innovative Technologies And UN SDGs 22/01/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Three major international organisations in Geneva dealing with health, trade and intellectual property rights will come together next month to look at how innovative technologies can help to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health.
New WHO Director Calls On Board To Join In “Intensive” Period Of Change 22/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment All human beings should receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship, such is the definition of universal health coverage, a key point of discussion at the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting this week. New WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Dr Tedros) opened the event by presenting his vision for the future, and the collective work to accomplish necessary changes to the UN health agency. The European Union and United States warned against politicisation of the WHO.
US Working To Block UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Ideas In Geneva And Capitals 22/01/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States, possibly working with like-minded countries, is working to prevent the further spread among international organisations in Geneva of recommendations put forward by the 2016 United Nations High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, considering them to be ideological driven and dangerous to economic growth. The comments were made by a US official speaking to a recent US industry event in Washington DC involving many of the US intellectual property attachès, at which two attachés from Geneva described latest developments and strategy for the coming year. A key message from attachès to industry: come to Geneva and engage, starting with this week’s Executive Board meeting at the World Health Organization.
Antimicrobial Resistance The “Scariest” Public Health Issue, Needs Financial R&D Incentives, Industry Says 19/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the eve of the annual January World Health Organization Executive Board meeting, an alliance of pharmaceutical industries launched its first report on efforts made to curb antimicrobial resistance. The alliance also organised a conference on the report and on challenges of antimicrobial resistance, in particular the need for research and development incentives so that the industry can continue its efforts sustainably. Some light was also shed on the need to support access to diagnostics, and lower their prices.
Heading Off Global Action On Access To Medicines In 2018 19/01/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the dawn of 2018, political and health leaders must seize the growing momentum and opportunities to tackle the protracted challenges of access to medicines that undermines efforts to save lives and improve health as committed under the Agenda 2030 SDG [Sustainable Development Goals] by all UN member states, write Jorge Bermudez and Viroj Tangcharoensathien.
EPO-EU Conference Examines Hot Topic Of Patentability Of Plants In Europe 18/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The last couple of years have brought heated discussions in Europe on the patentability of plant innovations, leading to a recent amendment of patent application rules at the European Patent Office. Two major actors share this innovation landscape: the biotechnologists and the plant breeders, with similar but not identical needs for protecting their invention. A joint conference on innovation in the plant sector was held recently by the EPO and the Community Plant Variety Office.
Industry Alliance Report: Companies Invest In AMR R&D, Need More Pull Incentives 18/01/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An alliance of over a hundred industries seeking to curb antimicrobial resistance launched its first report today. According to the report, a number of companies are heavily investing in research and development, and work to improve access to their diagnostic products and preventing therapies.
Global Summit On IP And Access Discusses Impact Of TRIPS-Plus Measures On Public Health 17/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 10 Comments A network of civil society organisations chose the birthplace of the World Trade Organization, Marrakesh, to hold a global summit on intellectual property and access to medicines this week. Part of the summit focused on stringent IP measures in free trade agreements in particular with the European Union, introducing patent term extension and data exclusivity periods.