The United States and the European Union are using a United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to effectively renegotiate a landmark agreement on intellectual property rights and public health.
As KEI has discussed previously, USTR’s proposal for the IP chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) raises numerous concerns for human rights, access to medicines, and access to information, among other issues. Continue Reading
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) serve low-income, underinsured or uninsured HIV-positive patients in the United States and its territories. General eligibility requirements may include residency, clinical eligibility based on specific CD4 counts, and income. Specific eligibility criteria for each ADAP is determined by each individual state. Continue Reading
The number of patients sitting on AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) wait lists, denied the life-saving treatment they need, have risen dramatically over the past two years. ADAPs are critical in providing HIV/AIDS treatment to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured patients within the United States and its territories. As noted in an earlier KEI blog, in January 2010, 361 individuals were on ADAP waitlists; that number grew to 7,873 across eleven states as of May 5, 2011 (a 2100% increase over less than sixteen months).
It has been estimated that 1 out of every 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. Although a diagnostic test exists to identify mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 human genes, two genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer, many women are not afforded the opportunity to have testing done because Myriad Genetics holds exclusive rights over these genes. Continue Reading
On 12 July 2011, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Gilead announced an agreement for Gilead to license patents for tenofovir (TDF), emtricitabine (FTC), elvitegravir (EVG), cobisistat (COBI) and a four drug combination of these drugs. KEI’s initial comments on the agreement are available here. Continue Reading
USPTO is currently considering a pilot program to grant priority review vouchers as an incentive mechanism for technologies or licensing that responds to humanitarian needs. KEI, MSF, Oxfam and PC previously submitted comments on November 19, 2010 and provided additional comments on March 4, 2011 with UAEM.
Last week I attended the seventh round of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) that took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I was able to meet negotiators from all nine negotiating parties and was able to discuss our concerns regarding the proposed U.S. IP chapter for the TPPA, including, in particular, access to medicines and the right to health. I was also able to distribute the joint civil society comments previously submitted to the U.S. Continue Reading
There is a growing interest in the use of innovation inducement prizes to stimulate investments in medical research and development.
On Wednesday, May 18, 2011, eight civil society organizations submitted joint comments and recommendations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Continue Reading