WTO TRIPS Council: South Africa considers strict patentability criteria to address abuses in the pharmaceutical industry

On 1 February 2019, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published a submission (IP/C/W/651) by South Africa to the TRIPS Council on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Promoting Public Health Through Competition Law and Policy. The South African paper endeavors… Continue Reading

Pfizer’s efforts to block Colombia’s accession to the OECD in 2017-2018

The following PDF file includes several email exchanges between Pfizer and USTR regarding Colombia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Pfizer proposed several conditions it wanted Colombia to agree to before the US would withdraw objections… Continue Reading

WTO panel finds 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health is an agreement between members

The panel in a WTO dispute regarding Australia and plain packaging of tobacco products reached the conclusion that 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health has the status of an agreement that has modified the interpretation of… Continue Reading