Original news and analysis on international IP policy
The Access to Medicine Index 2016 was published today, analysing the top 20 research-based pharmaceutical companies. The index looks at how those companies make medicines, vaccines and diagnostics more accessible in low- and middle-income countries. The index found progress in companies' efforts to improve access but little support for flexibilities enshrined in international trade rules.
A range of practitioners and representatives in the manufacture of medicines, intergovernmental officials, academics and civil society representatives last week gave diverse views on the effectiveness of a waiver to international trade rules intended to ease shipments of affordable medicines to low-income countries.
Trade secrets have gained the favour of a growing number of companies, according to speakers at a side event held in the margins of last week’s World Trade Organization intellectual property committee meeting. Organised by the European Union, Japan, and the United States, the side event explored the reasons why companies choose to protect their innovations through trade secrets.
European Union trade politicians in several meetings this week in Brussels reflected on the future of trade policy, also impacted by the US elections. “It is a changed world, period,” Iuliu Winkler, vice-chair of the parliamentary International Trade (INTA) Committee (European People's Party) said at the opening of the EU Trade Policy Day, expressing the general sentiment. While many members of INTA committee underlined the need of Europe to press ahead with their trade negotiations internationally, those critical of an aggressive trade agenda were eager to have their arguments not to be mixed with what was criticised as populist fear-mongering against globalisation.
The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee this week discussed the report of United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on access to medicines which offered recommendations regarding the use of intellectual property in international trade. Developing countries taking the floor accentuated the use of flexibilities under trade rules, and the World Health Organization gave an overview of how its activities follow the panel's recommendations, and its future projects. Civil society meanwhile criticised the WHO’s decision to dismiss a request by some developing countries to include discussions on the UN report at the next Executive Board Meeting.
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.
Today, the Medicines Patent Pool announced that two generic drug companies applied for the World Health Organization prequalification of an innovative antiretroviral.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.