WHO Cancer Report – Key findings

On 18 December 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a “Technical report on Pricing of cancer medicines and its impacts” (hereinafter referred to as the “WHO Cancer Report”). The mandate for the WHO Cancer Report emanates from operative paragraph… Continue Reading

WIPO side event, December 6, 2018, on the Implications of Article 27.3(a) of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on the patentability of gene and cell-based therapies

DATE: Thursday, 6 December 2018 TIME: 1:30 PM to 3 PM VENUE: Room B CONVENER: Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) cordially invites you to attend our side event during negotiations of the 29th Session of the Standing… Continue Reading

Pfizer’s efforts to block Colombia’s accession to the OECD in 2017-2018

The following PDF file includes several email exchanges between Pfizer and USTR regarding Colombia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Pfizer proposed several conditions it wanted Colombia to agree to before the US would withdraw objections… Continue Reading

At WIPO SCCR 37, a November 27, 2018 side event: Civil Society Views on the proposed WIPO Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations

DATE: Tuesday, 27 November 2018 TIME: 1 PM to 3 PM VENUE: Room B, World Intellectual Property Organization CONVENER: Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) cordially invites you to attend our side event during deliberations of the 37th… Continue Reading

Roadblocks ahead on the WHO Roadmap on Access to Medicines and Vaccines?

By Katy Athersuch [1] and Thiru Balasubramaniam In May 2018, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted decision WHA71(8) requesting WHO’s Director-General to “elaborate a roadmap, in consultation with Member States, outlining the programming of WHO’s work on access to medicines… Continue Reading

TRIPS Council (November 2018): Statement of South Africa on Promoting Public Health Through Competition Law and Policy

On 9 November 2018, South Africa delivered the following statement on IP and competition policy at the WTO TRIPS Council under agenda item 13 on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Promoting Public Health Through Competition Law and Policy (an… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council: South Africa asks WTO members to share best practices to address excessive prices

UPDATE: In November 2018, South Africa notified the WTO Secretariat that Brazil and India requested to co-sponsor this submission on Promoting Public Health Through Competition Law and Policy. On 29 October 2018, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published a submission… Continue Reading