[Ip-health] Email alert - May issue of the WHO Bulletin

Mon May 1 10:42:01 2006

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Dear Reader,

Please click on the following links to read articles from the May issue of =
the Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Click here for the full tabl=
e of contents <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/en/index.html> for =
the May issue.

Special theme: Intellectual property rights and public health

Tomris T=FCrmen & Charles Clift <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/3=
38.pdf>  introduce the central theme of this issue of the Bulletin: what ca=
n governments, the private sector and research institutes do to meet the ne=
ed for medicines, vaccines and diagnostics in developing countries in the a=
bsence of a lucrative market for these products. In their editorial, T=FCrm=
en & Clift describe the challenges that WHO's Commission on Intellectual Pr=
operty Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) faced in compiling a re=
port on this subject. The Bulletin expands the focus on drugs to cover othe=
r aspects that are key for public health, including: genomics, ethics, huma=
n rights and copyright. In another editorial, Anatole Krattiger & Richard T=
. Mahoney <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/340.pdf>  examine how i=
ntellectual property has become a key public health topic.

Several articles are devoted to the CIPIH report, published on 3 April 2006=
: Public health, innovation and intellectual property rights, including:

- an interview with Carlos Correa <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5=
/interview0506/en/index.html> , former Commission member;

- a summary of the report's recommendations <http://www.who.int/bulletin/vo=
lumes/84/5/CIPIH_report/en/index.html> ;

- an access-to-medicines campaigner's perspective by Ellen 't Hoen <http://=
www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/421.pdf> ;

- an industry perspective by Eric Noehrenberg <http://www.who.int/bulletin/=
volumes/84/5/419.pdf> ; and

- a human rights perspective by David J. Winters <http://www.who.int/bullet=
in/volumes/84/5/414.pdf> .

In the News, Jacqui Wise reports from Cape Town on why developing countries=
 are not using international trade law provisions <http://www.who.int/bulle=
tin/volumes/84/5/news10506/en/index.html>  to the full to buy life-saving m=
edicines at affordable prices. William New reports from Geneva on how propo=
sals for a global harmonization of patent law <http://www.who.int/bulletin/=
volumes/84/5/news20506/en/index.html>  would affect poor people's access to=
 medicines. Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen reports, also from Geneva, on the initi=
atives to stimulate research and development <http://www.who.int/bulletin/v=
olumes/84/5/news30506/en/index.html>  (R&D).

Should genes be patented?

An overlapping of patent rights - a patent "thicket" - threatens to restric=
t research and development of diagnostic tests and the provision of clinica=
l diagnostic services. Esther van Zimmeren et al. <http://www.who.int/bulle=
tin/volumes/84/5/352.pdf>  discuss establishing "clearing houses" to addres=
s the problem. Their article includes a glossary of terms used in intellect=
ual property rights and public health. Graham Dutfield <http://www.who.int/=
bulletin/volumes/84/5/388.pdf>  proposes that policy-makers opt for purpose=
-bound protection, under which human DNA sequences can be patented only wit=
h a specified use in mind. John Sulston <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volume=
s/84/5/412.pdf>  agrees that genes should not be patented, and argues that =
patent protection can stimulate but also stifle innovation. Dave A. Chokshi=
 et al. <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/382.pdf>  examine data-sh=
aring and intellectual property policies for an international research cons=
ortium on the genomic epidemiology of malaria.

Open access and copyright

Virginia Barbour et al. <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/339.pdf> =
 argue the case for open-access publication of scientific findings for the =
public benefit. In their editorial, they note that the Wellcome Trust in th=
e United Kingdom mandates its funded authors to make their work publicly av=
ailable, that the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging thi=
s practice, and increasing numbers of governments and funding bodies are si=
gning up to declarations on open access.

Access to medicines as a human right

In his editorial, Barry N. Pakes <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/=
341.pdf> discusses the ethical challenges posed by intellectual property is=
sues that affect public health. Hans V. Hogerzeil <http://www.who.int/bulle=
tin/volumes/84/5/371.pdf>  presents five assessment questions and practical=
 recommendations to further strengthen the human-rights-based approach in n=
ational essential medicines programmes. Introducing a round table discussio=
n, Xavier Seuba <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/405.pdf>  discuss=
es how to enforce access to essential medicines as a human right. Jonathan =
Kahn argues that a human rights approach should entail providing notice to =
patent holders that their products might be subject to a rights-based compu=
lsory licence. James Love <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/405.pdf=
>  proposes a Medical Innovation Prize Fund and a medical R&D treaty to pro=
tect access to essential medicines as a human right. Helena Nygren-Krug & H=
ans V. Hogerzeil <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/405.pdf>  argue =
that health policy-makers should use a human-rights framework to increase a=
ccess to medicines. Carlos Correa <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5=
/399.pdf>  reviews how free trade agreements limited some developing countr=
ies' access to essential medicines.

Access to medicines

Julie Milstien & Miloud Kaddar <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/36=
0.pdf>  summarize the conclusions of a WHO meeting, which found no evidence=
 that the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Right=
s (TRIPS) stimulates vaccine innovation for developing countries or that pr=
otection of intellectual property rights restricts developing countries' ac=
cess to vaccines. Steve M. Maurer <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5=
/376.pdf>  argues that, for the first time, budgets may be large enough to =
deliver a new drug for neglected diseases every few years. Sisule F. Musung=
u <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/366.pdf>  proposes benchmarks t=
o assess progress in tackling the challenges of intellectual property and a=
ccess to medicines in developing countries. Reiko Aoki et al. <http://www.w=
ho.int/bulletin/volumes/84/5/417.pdf>  argue that narrow patents in Japan s=
timulated domestic R&D leading to the development of new drugs for the loca=
l market. They propose that pharmaceutical companies and consumers in devel=
oping countries could benefit from a similar strategy.

Volume 84, Number 5, May 2006, 337-424

IN THIS MONTH'S BULLETIN

WHO's Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Hea=
lth; Open access and copyright as alternatives to patents; Access to medici=
nes as a human right; Should genes be patented?; Access to life-saving medi=
cines stumbles on trade rules; Rich and poor countries divided on patent tr=
eaty; Meeting the need for treatment: the initiatives; Bulletin interview: =
do patents work for public health?
Full Text [pdf 61kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/itmb.=
pdf>

EDITORIALS

Public health, innovation and intellectual property rights: unfinished busi=
ness
- Tomris T=FCrmen & Charles Clift
HTML <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/editorial10506html/en=
/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 54kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/vo=
lumes/84/5/338.pdf>

The impact of open access upon public health
- Virginia Barbour et al.
HTML <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/editorial20506html/en=
/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 69kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/vo=
lumes/84/5/339.pdf>

Intellectual property and public health
- Anatole Krattiger & Richard T Mahoney
HTML <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/editorial30506html/en=
/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 61kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/vo=
lumes/84/5/340.pdf>

Public health ethics and intellectual property policy
- Barry N Pakes
HTML <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/editorial40506html/en=
/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 62kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/vo=
lumes/84/5/341.pdf>

NEWS

News
Access to AIDS medicines stumbles on trade rules; Rich and poor countries d=
ivided on patent treaty; Protecting traditional knowledge: the San and hood=
ia; Meeting the need for treatment: the initiatives
Access to AIDS medicine story [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/vo=
lumes/84/5/news10506/en/index.html>  | Patent treaty/San & hoodia story [HT=
ML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/news20506/en/index.htm=
l>  | Treatment initiatives story [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulleti=
n/volumes/84/5/news30506/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 283kb] <http://ww=
w.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/news.pdf>

WHO News
Bulletin interview: Do patents work for public health? - Interview with Car=
los Correa; CIPIH report: main recommendations; Recent news from WHO
Interview in HTML <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/intervie=
w0506/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 184kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bu=
lletin/volumes/84/5/who_news.pdf>

POLICY & PRACTICE

Patents and clearing houses
- Esther van Zimmeren et al.
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/vanzimmere=
n0506abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 589kb] <http://www.who.int/e=
ntity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/352.pdf>

TRIPS and priority vaccines
- Julie Milstien & Miloud Kaddar
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/milstien05=
06abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 378kb] <http://www.who.int/enti=
ty/bulletin/volumes/84/5/360.pdf>

Benchmarking intellectual property
- Sisule F Musungu
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/musungu050=
6abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 285kb] <http://www.who.int/entit=
y/bulletin/volumes/84/5/366.pdf>

Essential medicines and human rights
- Hans V Hogerzeil
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/hogerzeil0=
506abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 281kb] <http://www.who.int/ent=
ity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/371.pdf>

Incentives for research on neglected diseases
- Stephen M Maurer
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/maurer0506=
abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 379kb] <http://www.who.int/entity=
/bulletin/volumes/84/5/376.pdf>

Intellectual property and research collaboration
- Dave A Chokshi, Michael Parker, & Dominic P Kwiatkowski
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/chokshi050=
6abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 405kb] <http://www.who.int/entit=
y/bulletin/volumes/84/5/382.pdf>

DNA patenting: implications for public health research
- Graham Dutfield
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/dutfield05=
06abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 284kb] <http://www.who.int/enti=
ty/bulletin/volumes/84/5/388.pdf>

Antiretroviral pricing in Global Fund programmes
- Ashwin Vasan et al.
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/vasan0506a=
bstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 311kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/=
bulletin/volumes/84/5/393.pdf>

PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEW

Bilateral free trade agreements and access to medicines
- Carlos Mar=EDa Correa
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/correa0506=
abstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 426kb] <http://www.who.int/entity=
/bulletin/volumes/84/5/399.pdf>

ROUND TABLE

Human rights approach to essential medicines
- Xavier Seuba
Commentaries: James Packard Love; Jonathan Kahn; Helena Nygren-Krug & Hans =
V Hogerzeil
Abstract [HTML] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/seuba0506a=
bstract/en/index.html>  | Full Text [pdf 288kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/=
bulletin/volumes/84/5/405.pdf>

PERSPECTIVES

Staking claims in the biotechnology Klondike
- John Sulston
Full Text [pdf 153kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/412.=
pdf>

Expanding global research and development for neglected diseases
- David J Winters
Full Text [pdf 140kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/414.=
pdf>

Patent policy and public health in developing countries: lessons from Japan
- Reiko Aoki, Kensuke Kubo, & Hiroko Yamane
Full Text [pdf 133kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/417.=
pdf>

Report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights: an industry persp=
ective
- Eric Noehrenberg
Full Text [pdf 91kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/419.p=
df>

Report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Pu=
blic Health: a call to governments
- Ellen 't Hoen
Full Text [pdf 135kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/421.=
pdf>

BOOKS & ELECTRONIC MEDIA

Making medicines affordable: studying WHO initiatives
- Nuria Homedes
Full Text [pdf 59kb] <http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/84/5/424.p=
df>

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