WHA74: KEI’s statement on expanding access to effective treatments for cancer and rare and orphan diseases including cell and gene-based therapies

At the World Health Organization’s 74th World Health Assembly, Knowledge Ecology International delivered the following remarks on expanding access to effective treatments for cancer and rare and orphan diseases including cell and gene-based therapies on Thursday, 27 May 2021. Non-state… Continue Reading

21 May 2021: 62 WTO members submit revised proposal on a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the Prevention, Containment, and Treatment of COVID-19

On Friday, 21 May 2021, 62 WTO members (African Group, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Egypt, Eswatini, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kenya, the LDC Group, Maldives, Mozambique, Mongolia, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa, Vanuatu, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Zimbabwe) submitted… Continue Reading

21 May 2021 – The Pandemic Preparedness Treaty: Unlocking intellectual property, knowledge and know-how for the public good

Ahead of the 74th World Health Assembly, Health Action International, Knowledge Ecology International, and Medicines Law & Policy will be co-hosting a discussion with a high-level panel on what a pandemic response treaty should say about the sharing of rights… Continue Reading

People’s Vaccine Alliance Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau Urgently Requesting the Amendment of Schedule 1

On May 18th, the People’s Vaccine Alliance sent Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, a letter urgently requesting that vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for COVID-19 be added to Schedule 1 of the Patent Act. Below is the text of the PVA… Continue Reading

41 Canadian Experts Request Amendment to Schedule 1 of the Patent Act to include COVID-19 vaccines

On April 27th, a letter signed by 41 Canadian experts was sent to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Minister of Innovation, Science & Industry, and the Minister of Health. The letter requests the amendment of Schedule 1 of the… Continue Reading

Fissures on intellectual property, C-TAP and transparency emerge in WHO local production negotiations

On 4 December 2020, Ethiopia submitted a Zero Draft resolution to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies to Improve Access – WHO Resolution on Strengthening Local Production of Medicines and Other… Continue Reading

$1.3 Billion Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Development Contract Contains Broad Redactions Relating to Public’s Rights in Inventions

On March 31, 2020, KEI received a copy of the contract between Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the development of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine.The contract, which is now valued at $1.3 billion,… Continue Reading