E-DRUG: Patent Pool workshop at Mexico AIDS Conference
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[The International AIDS Conference is this year in Mexico. From the thousands of workshops, here is an important one for the future access to medicines: a discussion with UNITAID as to how patent pools can help increase access. You have to get up early, though: it starts at 0700 AM! WB]
Satellite Session
Tuesday, 5 August 2008. 7.00 8.30 AM
XVII International AIDS Conference
Banamex Center, Mexico City
Skills Building Room 9
Taking the Plunge
How the UNITAID Patent Pool Could Help Increase Access to
Newer ARVs and Stimulate Innovation
Organized by Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Medecins Sans
Frontieres (MSF) Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines and OXFAM
The recent groundbreaking decision taken by UNITAIDs board to in principle
establish a patent pool could hold the key to future access to affordable
newer ARVs. A patent pool is a mechanism whereby a number of patents held
by different entities are made available to other interested parties for
production or further development. The patent holders in return receive
royalties paid by those using the patents. The pool manages the licenses,
patent negotiations, and royalty payments, which streamlines the process. A
patent pool could facilitate, for example, the development of pediatric
formulations or much-needed fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) for less toxic
first-line, and for second-line treatments, for which patents on individual
compounds otherwise pose a barrier. It could also help speed up the
availability of generic versions of new medicines, as production could
begin well before the 20-year patent terms expire. Critical to a patent
pools success, however, is the willingness of the patent holders to
include their patent rights in the pool.
This session will provide a briefing on the UNITAID patent pool, explore
the
pros and cons of patent pools and will be followed by a discussion.
Speakers will include representatives from the pharmaceutical industry,
UNITAID, and NGOs.
Speakers:
Chair: Dr. Sigrun Mgedal, Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Norway
Dr. Jorge Bermudez, International Secretary, UNITAID
James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
Gregg H. Alton, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Gilead
Ellen t Hoen, Director Policy Advocacy, Mdecins Sans Frontires
Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni, Senior health and HIV policy advisor, OXFAM GB