WIPO IGC30: Narrowing existing gaps relating to the protection of genetic resources?

Posted on by Staff

By Sophia Simon

This week, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is convening the 30th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (GRTKF) from 30 May 2016 to 3 June 2016. The goal of this week’s session is to “[u]ndertake negotiations on [genetic resources] GRs with a focus on addressing unresolved issues” and to consider “options for a draft legal instrument.” The Committee is chaired by Ian Goss (Australia).

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28 Organizations Ask President Obama to Support Colombian Compulsory License on Expensive Leukemia Drug

Posted on by Zack Struver

Contact:
(U.S.) Andrew Goldman, KEI: andrew.goldman@keionline.org or +1 (202) 332-2670
(Colombia) Andrea Carolina Reyes Rojas, Misión Salud: subdireccion@mision-salud.org
(Colombia) Dr. Francisco Rossi, IFARMA: francisco_rossi@hotmail.com
(More on Colombia here: /colombia)

Washington, DC — Today, 28 organizations that support the advancement of public health, as well as the successful continuation of the peace process in Colombia, urged President Obama to voice U.S. support for Colombia’s right to grant a compulsory license on an expensive leukemia drug. Continue Reading →

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HAI/KEI intervention at the WHA69 on the negotiations on an R&D agreement

Posted on by KEI Staff

Jamie-740x.jpg The following is the intervention on behalf of Stichting Health Action International (HAI) at 69th World Health Assembly, Agenda Item 16.2: Follow-up to the report of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination – Report of the open-ended meeting of Member States.

KEI worked with HAI on the statement, and it was delivered by James Love

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Sens. Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders send letter to USTR condemning pressure on Colombia compulsory license for cancer drug

Posted on by Andrew Goldman

(More on Colombia here: /colombia)

In response to reports of USTR pressure on Colombia’s potential compulsory license for imatinib, Senators Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have sent a letter to USTR objecting “to any efforts to protect the public health of Colombians in a way that is appropriate, effective, and consistent with the country’s trade and public health obligations,” and condemning as unconscionable “that any representatives of the U.S. government would threaten to rescind funding for Colombia’s peace iniative if a compulsory license for Glivec were issued.” Continue Reading →