WTO TRIPS Council – 20 November 2020 – South Africa’s defense of the TRIPS waiver

On Friday, 20 November 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal, virtual meeting of the TRIPS Council to discuss a proposal (IP/C/W/669) co-sponsored by Eswatini, India, Kenya, and South Africa for a waiver from certain provisions of the… Continue Reading

KEI Comments on Proposed Exclusive License to Connectyx for Degenerative Retinal Disease Treatment

On November 6, 2020, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) submitted comments to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding the, “Prospective Grant of an Exclusive Patent License: Development of a Direct Ocular Administered Formulation of Metformin for Use in Therapeutic Treatment… Continue Reading

$1 Billion Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Contract Weakens IP and Data Protections for Taxpayers

On November 7, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted another COVID-19 vaccine contract: the $1 billion agreement between Janssen Pharmaceutical (a component of Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”)) and the U.S. government (through an intermediary called Advanced… Continue Reading

Regeneron COVID-19 Contract Weakens the Government’s Rights in Data

On November 5, 2020, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals published a redacted version of the contract awarding the company $450 million taxpayers’ dollars for the large-scale manufacture of Regeneron’s investigational COVID-19 antibody treatment. The contract uses Other Transactions Authority to weaken the U.S.… Continue Reading

Regeneron $450 million contract with Advanced Technology International has Patent Rights Clause that Narrows Government Rights in Patented Inventions

A contract between Regeneron and Advanced Technology International (ATI) involving $450 million in taxpayer funding uses the “Other Transactions Authority” or OTA, to avoid Bayh-Dole safeguards on patent rights. ATI is entering into purchase agreements on behalf of the Department… Continue Reading

U.S. Government funding of Lilly’s LY-CoV555 antibody against COVID-19

Lilly recently requested an emergency use authorization for LY-CoV555, an antibody treatment candidate against COVID-19. Like other COVID-19 candidates, the discovery of LY-CoV555 was heavily supported by the U.S. government. The government of Canada has also awarded millions to manufacture… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): European Union dismisses concerns that IPRs are a barrier to COVID-19 medicines and technologies

On Friday, 16 October 2020, the European Union provided the following perspectives during a three hour debate on the proposed waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 co-sponsored by Eswatini, Kenya,… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): South Africa issues clarion call urging support for TRIPS waiver proposal

On Friday, 16 October 2020, members of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council held a three hour debate on the proposal (IP/C/W/669) first tabled by India and South Africa for a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement… Continue Reading