Threats

There are a number of organizations that seek to weaken patent protection by asserting, with little or no evidence, that drug patents are a primary barrier to drug access in poor countries and that global health research ignores the needs of populations in undeveloped countries. By weakening patent protection, the global health research environment could be badly damaged, undermining the ongoing search for tomorrow’s cures. Global market-driven research has produced all of the current treatments for diseases such as HIV/AIDS and cancer and is largely responsible for the availability of treatments that have halved the death-rate from heart disease in many countries.

Some of the key opportunities for US/Canada/Latin America Stakeholders to advocate for the protection of patents include:

End of September: Comments on IGWG draft due
September 20-21 (Canada): IGWG Consultation (Americas)
September (TBD) (Washington, DC): House Ways and Means Committee hearing
October 1-5 (Washington, DC): The Americas WHO Regional Meeting
October (TBD) (Washington, DC): Senate Finance Committee hearing
November 5-10 (Geneva): WHO IGWG Meeting

Threats and Opportunities

A list of upcoming events and initiatives that threaten -- but also provide opportunities to support -- patents and private medical research incentives. These events include:

WHO events
WHO IGWG meetings
WHO regional meetings
US Congressional hearings