Richard Kjeldgaard, a former Senior Counsellor in the Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and now employed by the U.S. based Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) performed his role as “bouncer” admirably today at a luncheon organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
The lunch was held at the pavilion of the Hotel School in close proximity to the labyrinthine Palais des Nations where the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG) is meeting. Representatives from Medecins sans Frontieres, Health Action International, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines and Knowledge Ecology International sought to gain entrance to the event on “Global Health Solutions: Solutions for Diseases Affecting Developing Countries”. The ostensible reason provided by Richard Kjeldgaard for barring entrance to the luncheon was the lack of seating for NGOs (of the public interest variety).
Panelists at the event included Jana Tom (University of California Systems), Ted Roumel (University of Maryland), Mark Rohrbaugh (US National Institutes of Health), and Professor Diran Makinde (West Africa Biosciences Network).
One wonders what nuggets of wisdom BIO wished to communicate under a secret veil to government delegates. Time will only tell.