Sign-on Letter to USTR, be honest about impact of TPP on prices, access to medicines

Posted on by Claire Cassedy

KEI is circulating a sign on letter to be sent to Ambassador Michael Froman of USTR. We learned that in a USTR has been stating that there was no evidence that stronger intellectual property rules created barriers for access to medicine.

This is a shocking statement for USTR to make, and we are seeking confirmation and clarification of USTR’s assertion. The text of our letter follows below.

If you would like to sign on to this letter, please send your name, city and state of residence, and affiliation if any, along with contact details (only for confirmation if necessary), to:

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WTO TRIPS Council (February 2015): EU statement on LDC extension of transition period for pharmaceutical products

Posted on by Thiru

The following statement was delivered by the European Union at the February 2015 session in response to the proposal by the LDC Group Request for an Extension of the Transitional Period Under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for Least Developed Country Members with Respect to Pharmaceutical Products and for Waivers from the Obligation of Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement.

In particular, the European Union noted,

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June 2015: WTO reports on India’s Section 3(d) and compulsory licensing provisions – WTO Trade Policy Review – India

Posted on by Thiru

On 2 June 2015 and 4 June 2015, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is conducting a trade policy review of India. All members of the WTO are subject to review under the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). The TPRM takes place in the “Trade Policy Review Body which is actually the WTO General Council — comprising the WTO’s full membership — operating under special rules and procedures” (Source: WTO, Trade Policy Reviews: Brief Introduction).

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Bucharest: KEI Europe Hosts Side Event on Access to Affordable HCV Medicines Saturday 30 May 10:00

Posted on by Andrew Goldman

For any of you in Bucharest this weekend at the EASL conference on liver disease, KEI Europe will host a side event on access to affordable HCV medicines on Saturday morning.

Pathways to Widespread Access: Affordable HCV Medicines in Romania
Date: 10:00-12:00 Saturday, 30 May 2015
Venue: Novotel Bucharest City Centre, Conference Room Lyon (Mezzanine Floor)

A Panel Discussion:

Peter Beyer, World Health Organization (WHO). Access to Medicines and Intellectual Property Rights
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Put the patents at risk, not the patients

Posted on by James Love

The TPP, following a plethora of other trade agreements involving the United States, the European Union and Japan as trading partners, seeks to expand and extend drug monopolies, by requiring lower standards for the grant of patents, extensions of patent terms, exclusive rights in test data, among other measures. These proposals and polices are designed to have the predictable effect of making drug prices higher.

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