E-DRUG: Covid-19, opportunity to reform the R&D Model?
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[See also E-DRUG: Rethinking R&D for Pharmaceutical Products After the Novel Coronavirus April 18, 2020 by Dr German Velasquez]
http://agendapublica.elpais.com/la-crisis-oportunidad-para-reformar-el-modelo-de-id/
In Spanish (it should be readable with Google translate though). The
following article published in Agenda Publica, lists the challenges and
opportunities of the current R&D model to meet the global health needs in
times of Covid-19.
Summary:
-Issues in transparency, affordability and the business model keep being
the main barriers to ensure an efficient and sustainable R&D model and
hinder access to affordable and accessible medicines.
-Countries are taking measures in order to ensure access to
Covid-19-related technologies, medicines and vaccines through IP management.
-WHO´s Solidarity Trial, CEPI and Costa Rica´s patent pool proposal are
encouraging examples of international leadership and governance to create a
more collaborative and transparent system.
-Conclusions:
It is necessary to create tools aimed at regulating the way pharmaceutical
industry works, both in terms of transparency on R&D expenses, as well as
creating systems that encourage research aimed at satisfying public health
needs in a sustainable way, and not for the short-term benefit.
A new model must re-evaluate the role of civil society, academia, and the
public sector in generating value along the medicine chain, from the
definition of research objectives, manufacturing, or research of new
therapies. The public sector cannot be reduced to the role of research
funder and client of its own investments, and binding clauses must be
implemented in those products developed with public investments,
guaranteeing universal access.
In short, the future of the pharmaceutical R&D model will depend on the
role that we want to have through our institutions, but above all on
political decisions that promote international governance agreements
against global health problems such as the current one.
Adrián Alonso Ruiz <adrian26790@gmail.com>
[Please supply affiliation and country - Moderator]