Access to Medicine
2016: NIH license on patents on 5T4 Antibodies for cancer treatment, diagnostics, to Ovensa, located in Ontario, Canada
(More on government funded inventions here. Other KEI comments on NIH licenses are found here.) These are the April 17, 2016 KEI comments on the NIH proposed exclusive license to Ovensa, for patents on 5T4 antibodies for cancer treatment and… Continue Reading
CDIP 17: Asia Pacific and African Group raise concerns re: WIPO’s position on the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is convening its 17th session of the Committee on Intellectual Property and Development (CDIP17) from 11 April 2016 to 15 April 2016. The mandate of the Committee is to “develop a work-program for implementing the 45 adopted Development Agenda recommendations” and “monitor, assess, discuss and report on the implementation of all recommendations adopted” (Source: WIPO page on the Committee on Development And Intellectual Property).
2016: Objection to exclusive license to AestasRx Inc.
(More on government funded inventions here. Other KEI comments on NIH licenses are found here.) Susan Ano, Ph.D., NINDS Technology Transfer, 31 Center Drive, Suite 8A52, MSC2540 Bethesda, MD 20892; Telephone: (301) 435-5515; anos@mail.nih.gov Dear Dr. Ano, I am writing to express… Continue Reading
2016: Midissia Therapeutics license of NIH owned breast and prostate cancer vaccine patents
(More on government funded inventions here. Other KEI comments on NIH licenses are found here.) Sabarni K. Chatterjee, Ph.D., M.B.A. Senior Licensing and Patenting Manager, NCI Technology Transfer Center, 9609 Medical Center Drive, RM 1E530 MSC 9702, Bethesda, MD 20892-9702… Continue Reading
BIO, PhRMA and US Chamber of Commerce express fear of UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines in letter to Senator Hatch
In a sternly worded letter dated 18 February 2016, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) and the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) wrote Senator Orrin Hatch (Republican – Utah) expressing serious reservations with the United Nations High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines (UN HLP). Continue Reading
KEI statement on GSK’s announcement of policies to expand access to patented medicines
GSK has made a major announcement of new policies to expand access to its patented medicines. A copy of the press statement is here. Continue Reading
Bicameral letter from 6 Senators and 6 members of the House to NIH
On March 28, 2016, six Senators and six members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to HHS Secretary Burwell and Director Collins at NIH, calling for an “open and transparent public hearing” to discuss the issues presented in… Continue Reading
TRIPS Council March 2016: India reiterates support for de-linkage and references UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines
In early March 2016, the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council discussed “Intellectual Property and Innovation: Education and Diffusion”. The following delegations co-sponsored discussion of this item on Education and Diffusion – Australia, European Union, Switzerland, United States, Japan, Singapore, Peru, Russian Federation, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong China.
11 February 2016: 5 groups express concerns over WIPO statements relating to UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines
On Thursday, 11 February 2016, five groups including Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Oxfam, Stop AIDS, Third World Network (TWN) and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) sent a letter to Dr. Francis Gurry, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) highlighting our concerns with statements expressed by WIPO relating to the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines (HLP). To date, we have yet to hear any formal response from WIPO. Continue Reading