E-DRUG: WHO Comm IPR Innovation & Public Health invites papers/viewpoints
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Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health
Open Discussion Forum
Dear Participants
We had a successful discussion on Advanced Purchase Contracts (APCs) in
November/December last which, from feedback, many people found useful. The
next discussion on "me-too drugs" has failed to replicate that success.
Given the time frame of the Commission (we have to produce a final report
for the WHO Executive Board next January), we need to accelerate the rate at
which we receive suggestions/proposals/views/comments on subjects of
interest to the Commission.
WE ARE THEREFORE ASKING YOU TO SUBMIT NOW YOUR VIEWS ON ANY SUBJECT OF
INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION.
These should be submitted preferably to the forum (send to
cipih@astro.lyris.net) or, if not for public consumption, to cipih@who.int.
As an aide-memoire, the Commission is interested in the following subjects,
which are not just about intellectual property rights. One summary is
contained in the framework paper prepared by the Commission last year:
http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/documents/en/Framework.paper.pdf
But to summarise the Commission wants to hear views on:
* What diseases disproportionately affect developing countries? What should
be the boundaries of the Commission's concerns in relation to diseases and
conditions affecting developing countries?
* How the intellectual property rights system a) promotes relevant R&D b)
promotes access to new treatments
* If the IP system could be improved, what policy measures might be
considered to make it work better? A number of schemes have been proposed to
promote relevant R&D and access, some of which are in the submissions
portion of our website:
http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/submissions/en/
But these are not exclusive.
* Schemes which propose incentives other than the IP system to promote R&D
and access.
* The implications of the current discussions about the productivity of R&D
in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically for diseases mainly affecting
developing countries
* The implications for R&D and access of the introduction of product patents
mandated under TRIPS for 2005
* The wider implications of regulatory systems, the business model of
pharmaceutical companies, the expectations of the investment community, the
implications of legal liability and other factors, for incentives for R&D
and access to new treatments. Following from that, are there proposals to
improve the way these systems might work in the interests of people in
developing countries?
* What funding bodies in both developed and developing countries need to do
to foster R&D and access for treatments needed in developing countries.
Could their priorities be improved?
* How "traditional medicine" (or other formulations of this term) might be
better utilised to produce effective treatments and make them more widely
accessible?
* How the innovative capacity in developing countries could be best utilised
to develop new treatments and promote affordable access to them
This summary is not exhaustive either, but might help to stimulate debate.
We look forward to your contributions which will be important in the
formulation of the Commission's report.
Regards
Charles Clift
Secretary, CIPIH
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A posting from the Commission on Intellectually Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health e-Forum
To read discussion archives: www.who.int/intellectualproperty/forum
To submit a posting, send to cipih@astro.lyris.net