SCCR 30 Day 1 June 29, 2015
The SCCR 30 started with the same industry representatives we usually meet here: the MPA, FIJ, IAF, CISAC, Croplife, IFPI, ABA etc… There are also quite a large group of library and archives representatives (IFLA, eifl, Archives etc). However there are many empty chairs for the public interest or pro development NGOs. Some might arrive later?
I spent a bit of time to look at the contributions from selected drug and medical device Political Action Committees (PACs) to the 28 House Democrats who voted for fast track on June 18, 2015. Continue Reading
Following the Friday vote in the House of Representatives which effectively blocked movement (for now) on the Trade Promotion Authority, and more generally, slowed down the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, I was contacted by Dr. Harvey Bale, the well known former Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA). In an exchange on Facebook, Dr. Bale took favorable note of the outcome on fast track, and described the vote against fast track as “A very good day, Indeed.” I asked Dr. Continue Reading
In discussions at the June 2015 WTO TRIPS Council on the role of intellectual property in financing innovation, India underscored its commitment to the principle of de-linkage by stating,
Innovation should not be viewed within the narrow prism of intellectual property monopolies but framed within a holistic, knowledge ecosystem that includes open innovation, open knowledge approaches and de-linkage of R&D costs from product prices
Attached is a 2 page summary of the main provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) that will lead to higher prices for drugs and other medical technologies.
A pdf version of the note is available here: /wp-content/uploads/KEI-TPP-Briefing-2015-2-A2M.pdf
KEI TPP Briefing note 2015:2
June 10, 2015
Continue Reading
The LDC Group delivered the following statement on Wednesday, 8 June 2015 during WTO TRIPS Council discussions on their request on the extension of the decision on pharmaceutical products.
PRESENTATION BY THE LDCS GROUP TO THE TRIPS COUNCIL ON THE EXTENSION OF THE DECISION ON PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, 09-10 JUNE 2015Mr. Chairman,
I make this presentation on behalf of the LDCs group. We thank you for calling this meeting and for your report.
US Copyright office proposes limits on damages, injunctions, for Orphan Works, contradicting TPP language
The US Copyright Office has proposed limitations on damages and injunctions, when “orphan” copyrighted works are infringed. Continue Reading
May 21, 2015- Agenda for KEI/KEI Europe panel on Compulsory licensing of patents on drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests
Panel discussion
Compulsory licensing of patents on drugs, vaccines and diagnostic testsKnowledge Ecology International (KEI) and Knowledge Ecology International Europe (KEI Europe):
DATE: Thursday, 21 May 2015
TIME: 17:30-19:00
VENUE: Kofi Annan Room, UNAIDS, Avenue Appia 20Moderator:
- Ellen ‘t Hoen, Medicines, Law and Policy
Panel members
WHA68: Greek Minister of Health – Panagiotis Kouroumplis – calls for de-linkage of R&D from the price of health technologies
On Monday, 18 May 2015, the Greek Minister of Health, Panagiotis Kouroumplis, delivered the following speech at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, explicitly calling for the de-linkage of the “cost of R&D from the final price of medicines” while highlighting the deleterious effects of austerity measures eroding public health systems, counter to the theme of WHA68, “Resilient Health Systems”.
Here is his speech in full:
Madam Director General, dear colleagues, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
KEI Comments to DHHS on WHA Agenda 17.5 (Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and IP)
On Friday May 8, 2015, the US Department of Health and Human Services held a listening session to solicit input on the agenda items for the upcoming 68th World Health Assembly. KEI delivered five interventions covering a range of critical WHA topics. The full provisional agenda of the 68th WHA can be accessed here.