News Room
Attack on Patents Hurts the Poor
(Business Daily Africa - Apr. 9, 2008) Activists have been trying for years to bring down the pharmaceutical industry. Their “patients not patents” campaign has a simplistic appeal but will only make things worse for the poor, as well as distracting attention from the real causes of ill health.
Underserved and Overlooked
A New Visions Commentary paper published by The National Center for Public Policy Research, February 2008
By Bishop Council Nedd II
Bishop Council Nedd II recently escorted a delegation of American patients' rights activists to a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the issue of medical innovation and public health.
"Imagine my surprise when I arrived in Geneva to find other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) objecting to my delegation's request to participate in discussing a global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property. Not only did these NGOs object to our presence, but they sought to have us barred from participating."
WHO Board Sets Course On IP
(IP Watch - Feb. 4, 2008) The World Health Organization Executive Board recently addressed several key issues pertaining to intellectual property rights and access to knowledge.
GSK gets charity money for R&D
(Financial Times - Jan. 23, 2008) Two public-private partnerships agreed to pay several million dollars to help finance the development of new medicines for infectious diseases. Public-private partnerships are an important step forward in the world’s crusade against diseases such as malaria and TB.
Report to the WHO Executive Board
(WHO - Jan. 21, 2008) Dr. Margaret Chan reports to the WHO's Executive Board on successes from 2007 and identifies areas for improvement and change. Dr. Chan identified the three most personally significant events of the past year:
1. That development partners, UN agencies, and funding facilities now recognize the necessity of investing in health systems.
2. That climate change is now accepted as a reality by world leaders.
3. That primary health care is making a comeback on the development agenda.
WHO talks on research strategy for developing world diseases stall
(Bio Pharma Reporter - Dec. 11, 2007) The second meeting of the WHO IGWG on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual property ended with no agreed strategy and plan of action. The IFPMA said that adapted, innovative funding mechanisms could create a 'pull' mechanism by creating adequate demand for future innovative medicines and vaccines to address unmet developing world health needs.
IAPO seminar on Intellectual Property and Public Health
(IAPO Newsletter, Dec. 10, 2007) IAPO held an educational seminar (Geneva, Switzerland – 6 November 2007) for patient groups on intellectual property and public health. The seminar was held at the same time as the 2nd meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property to bring patient groups closer to the decision making process on an issue that will have implications for all patients. The IAPO seminar provided an introduction to the IGWG process, information on key issues in the debate and explored how patient groups can get involved and advocate collectively the patient voice.
IAPO distributed the following press release at the close of this seminar.
WHO Launches Campaign To Develop Medicines For Children
(Medical News Today - Dec. 10, 2007) The World Health Organization on Thursday launched a campaign to encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop medicines better adapted to treat children with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Europe and the U.S. now have special rules that offer extended patent protection for drugs that have been tested among children in an effort to address the problem.
