Based on press releases and additional publicly-available information, KEI is building a dataset with a non-exhaustive list of deals that involve technology transfer and outsourcing of COVID-19 vaccines manufacturing. As of February 19, 2021, the dataset includes observations for over… Continue Reading
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman are often described as the pioneers of the mRNA discoveries that underpin the first COVID-19 vaccines. In 2005 both scientists published a paper reporting that a slightly tweaked version of mRNA that can be administered… Continue Reading
One of the characteristics we have seen in our analysis of COVID-19 contracts is heterogeneity. The Bayh-Dole was enacted in 1980 to provide for uniform provisions on funding agreements regarding the ownership of inventions and the public’s rights. But for… Continue Reading
Lilly recently requested an emergency use authorization for LY-CoV555, an antibody treatment candidate against COVID-19. Like other COVID-19 candidates, the discovery of LY-CoV555 was heavily supported by the U.S. government. The government of Canada has also awarded millions to manufacture… Continue Reading
On October 5, 2020, KEI organized a panel about government funding of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines at the Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest. Although the full Global Congress event was postponed to the year 2021, the… Continue Reading
(More on Moderna here: https://www.keionline.org/moderna) On August 28, 2020, KEI asked DARPA to investigate apparent failures to disclose U.S. government funding into Moderna’s patents and applications. The request, which was first covered by the Washington Post, and subsequently by Statnews,… Continue Reading
On June 9, 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body circulated its reports relating to the Australia – Tobacco Plain Packaging cases. The reports issued the decision regarding the appeals brought by Honduras and the Dominican Republic against the… Continue Reading
Texas-based company Xenex Disinfection Services, a manufacturer of robots that reportedly removes the SARS-CoV-2 virus from public spaces, has been making news lately. One of their robots, which uses ultraviolet lights to kill viruses and bacteria in surfaces and look… Continue Reading
On April 29, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published its annual Special 301 Report. A PDF copy of the report is available here. KEI has compiled copies of the Special 301 Report for every year since its inception… Continue Reading
In Canada, the foreground intellectual property arising under procurement contracts by default belongs to the contractor. However, there are several exceptions to this rule. One key policy provision allows the government to claim title of the foreground intellectual property “where…… Continue Reading