Month: August 2014

In a concerted bid to contain the emerging threat posed by antibiotic resistance, in May 2014, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) passed WHA resolution 67.25 on “Antimicrobial resistance” instructing the WHO to “develop a global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance” by May 2015 (Source: WHO page on Draft Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance). Continue Reading →

In May 2014, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 67th World Health Assembly (WHA67) passed decision WHA67(15) setting the stage for the creation of a new pooled funding mechanism for R&D. Continue Reading →

Following litigation by several lobbyists, OMB is revising its guidance on the appointment of lobbyists to federal advisory committees, boards, and commissions. Now, lobbyists can serve on these committees, including the USTR advisory boards. Money quote:

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This is a note on Gilead run or funded programs that are available for patients residing in the United States.

Recently, Gilead’s new hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi, has received much attention and criticism for its high price of $1000 a day.

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Attached are two annexes from our 2014 USTR Special 301 comments Continue Reading →

As part of a partial response to FOIA request, USTR has provided KEI with copies of 13 letters sent by members of Congress, from July 27, 2011 to August 8, 2013, on the topic of biologic drug test data provisions in the TPP negotiation. We had obtained several but not all of these letters earlier from a variety of sources, including from PhRMA’s web page — where some had been proudly displayed. (See link below).

Were there letters on the other side? Yes, three. (see below).

With the FOIA request, we have also obtained the responses to the letters.

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On July 24, 2014, the Medicines Patent Pool announced welcome modifications and expansions of their licensing agreement with Gilead. Among the significant changes were the addition of a new drug, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), formerly known as GS-7340. TAF is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and a prodrug of tenofovir. TAF is considered to have similar antiretroviral efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), the drug it may replace in use, but can be administered with smaller doses and with less adverse effect on kidneys and bones.

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