WTO TRIPS Council Ponders Regional Innovation Models, Other Issues 10/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week at the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee a range of mostly developed countries requested to discuss regional innovation models, and countries presented examples of such models. The committee also addressed the issue of “non-violation” complaints and issues of biodiversity and trade, observers, and e-commerce.
Two Generics Companies Apply For First WHO Prequalification Of Novel Antiretroviral 10/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Today, the Medicines Patent Pool announced that two generic drug companies applied for the World Health Organization prequalification of an innovative antiretroviral.
Six Candidates For WHO Director General Lay Out Their Views 10/11/2016 by Peter Kenny for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 3 Comments Funding, universal health, multisectoral work and access to medicines were among the issues addressed at the recent candidates’ forum of the World Health Organization in Geneva as part of the process to choose the next director general of the UN health agency. Candidates spoke on how to fund the organisation in its quest for universal health care and response to emergencies.
Lancet Report On Essential Medicines Takes Aim At Access, Affordability 08/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A much-anticipated report on progress in global access to essential medicines released today has found that change is needed to the system of paying for research and development, including moving beyond sole reliance on patents to cover R&D costs. It calls for a global R&D policy framework, a possible patent pool for essential medicines, addresses financing issues, and claims to have developed a new cost model. Meanwhile, comments ranged from two ministers from the Netherlands said the system is broken while a leading industry executive criticised it for questioning the patent system.
Union Calls “Flash Demo” After EPO Fires Another Union Representative 07/11/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO) called a 7 November “flash” demonstration in Munich after the office fired Laurent Prunier, SUEPO secretary in The Hague. The move dismayed employees encouraged after the Administrative Council (AC), made up of the office’s member states, last month pressured President Benoît Battistelli into backing off from two unpopular proposals for investigating and disciplining staff.
WHO Makes Headway In Hepatitis C Treatment Access Campaign 07/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Daniele Dionisio writes: It is morally mandatory to ensure that lifesaving direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C treatment become accessible to all those who need them. This requires commitment and coordination by all interested parties to overcome barriers to access.
WIPO Development Committee Finds Compromise On Future Work 07/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development last week agreed on a work programme which appears to be the best compromise to keep discussing subjects that developing countries consider as having major importance, such as how WIPO integrates development in its work, how the organisation implements the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and how WIPO delivers technical assistance to developing countries. They will also continue working on a project and a proposal related to technology transfer.
East African Nations Agree Declaration Promoting Regional Pharma Sector Investment 07/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Senior officials from East African nations last week agreed on a declaration on promoting investment in the region’s pharmaceutical sector, spelling out terms aimed at boosting investment in ways that are locally relevant and responsible. The declaration includes: steps to standardise and improve product quality and registration, boosting government procurement of local products, setting up research centres, adopting domestic laws on intellectual property and international trade flexibilities to IP, actions against counterfeit and substandard medical products, and increasing exports. The meeting comes as local pharmaceutical production is seen to be in decline in the region.
Indian Generic Pharma Warns Against Government Caving To US Pressure On Data Exclusivity 06/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Indian Drug Technical Advisory Board meeting on 7 November is expected to discuss a measure that could lead to opening the way to a 10-year data exclusivity period for originator pharmaceutical companies in India, according to the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. The alliance submitted a letter to the advisory board to warn against consequences on public health of data exclusivity if the Indian government “succumbs to” pressure by the United States.
Proposals On How To Better Implement WIPO Development Agenda Recommendations Kept On Agenda 04/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today, the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development agreed to pursue discussions on how WIPO is implementing the recommendations of its sweeping 2007 Development Agenda. The secretariat is instructed to provide a response to a set of recommendations provided by independent reviewers.