Disagreements Further Delay WHO IP Commission Report 13/01/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Health Organization commission on intellectual property rights has failed to meet its deadline for a report that was to be presented to the WHO Executive Board later this month because of disagreement among its members. The WHO Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) was set up in February 2004 […]
TRIPS Public Health Amendment Questioned; China Implements Decision 14/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Hong Kong–China’s recent decision to implement World Trade Organization rules making it easier for poor countries to import cheaper medicines was discussed at a non-governmental organisation meeting at the Hong Kong ministerial today, as questions swirled around the recent decision by WTO members to an amendment establishing these rules. On 29 November China issued an […]
Monthly News In Brief 13/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment WHO Paper Examines TRIPS Flexibilities The final version of a study entitled “The use of flexibilities in TRIPS by developing countries: can they promote access to medicines?” is now available online at: http://who.int/intellectualproperty/studies/TRIPS_flexibilities/en/index.html The study was conducted by Sisule Musungu of the South Centre and Cecilia Oh of the World Health Organisation, and commissioned by […]
US Congressional Delegation In Geneva Focuses On Trade, Avian Flu 30/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the United States House of Representatives visited Geneva this week to learn more about ongoing trade negotiations and policy related to the possible avian influenza pandemic. The bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats met on 28 November with World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy as well as with officials at the World […]
Nigeria Calls For Convention Against Counterfeit Medicines 16/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Lyon, France—Calling counterfeit medicines a “form of terrorism against public health,” a senior Nigerian health official urged a 14-15 November international conference in Lyon, France to support the adoption of an international convention to fight the problem. “I urge this conference [to adopt an] an international convention on counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals,” said Dora Akunyili, director […]
Workshop Highlights IP Hindrances For Avian Flu Drug Stockpiles 14/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Panelists at a Geneva workshop on intellectual property issues related to a possible avian influenza pandemic argued that IP rules and prices could make it difficult for nations to prepare sufficient stockpiles. Panelists argued that practical problems could arise with the application of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights […]
WHO: Patents Won’t Block Access To Avian Flu Medicines 10/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organisation does not think patents will stand in the way of an effective public health action in the event of an outbreak of avian flu in humans because pharmaceutical companies have showed a willingness to co-operate, a senior UN official said on 9 November. Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general’s representative for pandemic […]
Global Focus Emerges On Avian Flu 08/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Strategy for a possible outbreak of avian flu has been elevated from a national to an international level with a high-level meeting on a “plan of action” being held this week at the World Health Organisation. Intellectual property rights are on the agenda, but the focus during the first day and a half was bio-security […]
Roche Seeks Deals On Bird Flu Drug As Compulsory Licenses Loom 20/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Roche, the Swiss-based company with rights to a medicine believed to be the most effective in the event of an avian influenza pandemic, has expressed openness to discussing arrangements with companies or governments to produce more of its flu treatment known as Tamiflu. But sceptics argue that the offer, made on 18 October, is too […]
Health Experts Debate Solutions For New Treatments, Access To Medicines 08/06/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Experts from across the political and socioeconomic spectrum spent three days last week at the World Health Organisation engaged in debate about the best ways to stimulate the development of new treatments for underserved illnesses and to improve poor countries’ access to available medicines. The task of summarizing the results of the meeting and other […]