KEI 2015 Special 301 Comments (filed February 6, 2015)
Attached are KEI’s February 6 comments to USTR on the 2015 Special 301.
Our 7 page submission begins with this:
KEI comments on India IP strategy
Attached are KEI’s January 30, 2015 comments on the India IP Policy.
/wp-content/uploads/KEI_30Jan2015_Comments_India_IPR_Policy.pdf
This is how the comments begin:
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) has reviewed the document entitled “National IPR Policy” prepared by the IPR Think Tank. The document is surprisingly lacking in several key areas. In particular:
On World Cancer Day, do we celebrate the approval of Pfizer’s $118,200 drug Ibrance?
Today, on World Cancer Day, there has been many great announcements and celebrations.
The FDA approved Pfizer’s new drug Ibrance (INN: palbociclib) for the treatment of metastatic (advanced) breast cancer to be used in combination with letrozole based on a 165 person trial at UCLA’s cancer center. (FDA press release here, ABC story here.)
WTO TRIPS Council (February 2015): Norway and the United States bring gender mainstreaming to the fore-Women and Innovation
The first session of the 2015 World Trade Organization’s TRIPS Council takes place from 24 February 2015 to 25 February 2015. Like clockwork, the United States has tabled the inclusion of an additional item on Intellectual Property and Innovation. This marks the 8th time since November 2012 that the United States has submitted the inclusion of an additional agenda item to the TRIPS Council relating to intellectual property or innovation.
UACT letter to Professor DiMasi, asking for answer to five questions about new R&D cost study
February 4, 2015 is World Cancer Day. The rapidly increasing cost of cancer drugs should be broadly discussed. The Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment (UACT), a union of people affected by cancer (http://cancerunion.org/) is asking the author and co-author of the “Tufts Cost Study,” –a not-yet-released “study” used to justify high prices of drugs without providing data– to address the following questions:
EB 136 Draft decision passed on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property
On Tuesday February 3, 2015, the final day of the 136th WHO Executive Board meeting, the EB passed a draft decision on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPoA). The draft decision recommends to the WHA that the GSPOA be extended until 2022. Continue Reading
EB 136 Friday, January 30th: Discussion of Consultative Expert Working Group on Research Development-Financing and Coordination
Another matter considered during the Friday, January 30th session of the WHO Executive Board was the “Follow-up of the report on the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research Development-Financing and Coordination.” In addition to the general report on the CEWG, the EB also considered the Director General’s report on the CEWG “Health research and development demonstration projects.”
EB 136 Friday, January 30th: Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property
On Friday, January 30th, the WHO Executive Board discussed the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPA). The discussion covered several documents in relation to the GSPoA, including:
EB 136 Tuesday January 28: WHO Engagement with Non-state Actors; US issues apology to the African Group
During Tuesday’s session of the WHO Executive Board, the board considered a proposal from Argentina on the table for a “Framework of Engagement with Non-state Actors.” Many states, both Board members and non-Executive Board member states, contributed to the discussion, citing the issue as a critical reform issue for the WHO. While a number of states took issue with some of the specifics of the draft proposal, for example that at current time all types of non-state actors were lumped together (i.e. Continue Reading
Argentina, Brazil, India and South Africa- Draft decision to extend mandate of Global Strategy and Plan of Action till 2022
On Tuesday, 27 January 2015, Argentina, Brazil, India and South Africa tabled a draft decision to extend the mandate of the Global strategy and plan of action and public health, innovation and intellectual property (EB136/CONF.7) until 2022. We expect that this draft decision will be discussed on Thursday, 29 January 2015 under agenda item 10.5, Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property. Continue Reading