Intellectual property

Following the highly successful Opinion-Formers’ Conference on Counterfeit Medicines in October 2009, the Wellcome Trust and the American Pharmaceutical Group (APG) came together once again on 2 November 2010 to tackle another important issue: intellectual property.

The conference brought together opinion formers from a diverse range of perspectives to discuss the impact of intellectual property on health in low- and middle-income countries - including public health, legal, national and pharmaceutical industry viewpoints. The day was chaired by the Director of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Mark Walport, and split into two sessions: innovation and intellectual property, the changing environment and the role of patent protection on health in low- and middle-income countries. It concluded with a panel discussion to identify key issues and suggest possible routes forward.

Conference report and briefing Intellectual Property for Better Health: Challenges and opportunities for low- and middle-income countries

A summary report has been produced to encapsulate the main themes and actions of the day.

Download report [PDF 506KB]

A new era for intellectual property Dr Jeffrey L Sturchio, CEO of the Global Health Council, discusses how the view of intellectual property and innovation has changed over time, and the catalysts underlying these changes.

Responding to the changing innovation environment Dr Timothy Wells, Chief Scientific Officer for the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV),  shares the challenges facing access to medicines for malaria.

The industry perspective Dr Roy F Waldron, Chief Counsel and Senior Vice President of the Intellectual Property, Legal Division at Pfizer Inc., gives the industry perspective and discusses opportunities to utilise technology transfer for supporting low- and middle-income countries.

The global perspective Dr Zafar Mirza, Coordinator of the Department of Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property at the World Health Organization (WHO), talks about the interest of WHO in intellectual property and its role in tackling barriers to access for medicines.

Presentations

A selection of presentations given throughout the day.

Intellectual property: an overview [PowerPoint 3.88MB]
Nigel Jones, Co-Head Healthcare Sector, Linklaters LLP

Responding to the changing innovation environment: a case study [PowerPoint 4.28MB]
Dr Timothy Wells, Chief Scientific Officer, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)

The global perspective [PowerPoint 1.24MB]
Dr Zafar Mirza, Coordinator, Department of Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, World Health Organization

The impact of patent protection on health in low- and middle-income countries: some empirical evidence [PowerPoint 540KB]
Dr Anne Roemer-Mahler, DPhil (Oxon), Research Fellow in Global Health Politics, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

The industry perspective: return to the original spirit of TRIPS [PowerPoint 555KB]
Roy Waldron, Chief Counsel, Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property, Legal Division, Pfizer Inc. - New York Headquarters

A view from India [PowerPoint 11.3MB]
Dr Brian W Tempest, Non-Executive Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories

A new era for intellectual property? [PDF 48KB]
Dr Jeffrey L Sturchio, President and CEO, Global Health Council