WTO TRIPS Council (February 2015): LDC request for extension of the transitional period for pharmaceutical products

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is convening the TRIPS Council from Tuesday, 24 February 2015 to Wednesday, 25 February 2015. As mentioned in a previous piece, Norway and the United States “have submitted a written request for the inclusion of the topic, “Intellectual Property and Innovation: Women And Innovation” (Source: WTO TRIPS Council-February 2015- Norway and the United States bring gender mainstreaming to the fore-Women and Innovation, /node/2167).

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WTO Trade Policy Review of the United States: USTR deflects questions from India on compulsory licensing (December 2014)

On 16 December 2014 and 18 December 2014, the World Trade Organization (WTO) undertook a trade policy review of the United States of America. All members of the WTO are subject to review under the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). Continue Reading

Human Rights Council Social Forum 2015: Intervention of Knowledge Ecology International

20 February 2015

In accordance with Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/26/28, the Human Rights Council convened the 2015 Social Forum at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva from 18-20, February 2015 with a focus on “access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including best practices in this regard.”

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Save the Date- 19 February 2015- Fire in the Blood- Screening co-sponsored by KEI/MSF-Access Campaign

The Human Rights Council’s 2015 Social Forum will take place from 18 February 2015 to 20 February 2015 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

As requested by the Council in the above-mentioned resolution, the 2015 Social Forum will focus on “access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including best practices in this regard “. (Source: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/SForum/Pages/SForum2015.aspx).

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16-18 February 2015 WIPO Expert Forum on International Technology Transfer to examine Alternatives to the Patent System

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will host an Expert Forum on International Technology Transfer on 16 February 2015 to 18 February 2015 at its New Conference Hall. The event is open to the public, and the link for online registration can be found here: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/registration/form.jsp?meeting_id=35562.

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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.)

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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.

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