WHO/PAHO New Response Plan For Zika Until December 2017
A new response plan for a strategic response to the Zika virus has been announced by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Catherine Saez
WIPO GI System To Become More Expensive For Users; US Questions Administration
Last year, amid protests from some World Intellectual Property Organization members, a new treaty was adopted to protect geographical indications, broadening an existing treaty. One of the objections of some was that the existing treaty was not financially sustainable, and was piggybacking on other WIPO income-generating treaties. Last week, members of the treaty went over possible solutions to bring money into the system. Italy and France, the biggest beneficiaries, committed actual funds.
Generics, Biosimilars Makers Join Global Medical Harmonisation Body
Doors to a global medical harmonisation organisation opened to the generic and biosimilar industry, which described it as an historical moment for them. The industry will now be able to sit on the assembly of the international body that joins regulators with the pharmaceutical industry.
Panels Brainstorm Ideas On Innovation And Drug Access
The quest of balance between encouraging medical innovation and the imperative of broad access to medicines has so far been elusive. Two Harvard University programmes jointly organised a workshop this week with the aim of encouraging a conversation between global health actors and see if some "outside the box" thinking is possible.
UN Development Agency Issues Guidelines For Pharmaceutical Patent Examiners
A new set of guidelines for pharmaceutical patent examination has been published by the United Nations Development Programme that seek to help reduce poor quality patents and ensure efficient market entry of generic products. The guidelines, written by a well-known advocate of access to medicines, aim at advising patent examiners in assessing the patentability requirements of applications relating to pharmaceutical products and processes.
More Changes In UN Agencies; Movements In Global Health
Movement has been happening in international organisations in recent weeks, particularly in United Nations agencies, as new executive directors were nominated, and department directorships changed hands. The private sector and non-governmental organisations also saw a number of position switches and nominations, in particular in the health sector. Law offices kept pace with the usual chair revolving.
New Ideas Coming For WTO TRIPS Council; But Also Old Debate Over EU Drug Seizures
The European Union presenting its new Trademark Directive during this week’s meeting of the World Trade Organization intellectual property council heard concerns of possible seizures of generic medicines transiting through Europe. Meanwhile, the new Council chair's attempts at revitalising discussions between member states received general approval. And a new agenda item on e-commerce was launched.
Industry, Researchers Make Case For Patents And Innovation At WTO
Panellists at a side event this week at the World Trade Organization reminded delegates of the view that patents and a strong innovative environment are key to innovation, and in particular to green technology. A Swiss start-up company developing a…
WIPO Members Agree New Text On IP And Genetic Resources; Move Talks Forward
World Intellectual Property Organization members negotiating for an instrument to protect against theft of genetic resources last week agreed on a new text with more options on legal terms, effectively moving the talks forward. In this round of talks, the African Group showed signs of moving off its position of revoking patents for violators, while the United States came out strongly against disclosure of origin at the expense of amiable relations with key allies.
US Blindsides Allies Over Patents And Genetic Resources At WIPO
The United States may have hoped for a different result last week when it alienated allies at the World Intellectual Property Organization by issuing a rash criticism of Switzerland’s policy on patents and genetic resources and threatened to follow with more.