[Ip-health] Invitation to KEI, MSF & OXFAM symposium on UNITAID patent pool at IAC Mexico

[Mai DO]

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Satellite Session=0D
Tuesday, 5 August 2008. 7.00 =E2=80=93 8.30 AM=0D
XVII International AIDS Conference=0D
Banamex Center, Mexico City=0D
Skills Building Room 9=0D
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For additional information and RSVP contact Mai Do; mai.do@paris.msf.org=0D
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                            Taking the Plunge =C2=AD=0D
         How the UNITAID Patent Pool Could Help Increase Access to=0D
                    Newer ARVs and Stimulate Innovation=0D
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     Organized by Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), M=C3=A9decins Sans=
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   Fronti=C3=A8res (MSF) Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines and OXF=
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The recent groundbreaking decision taken by UNITAID=E2=80=99s board to in p=
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establish a patent pool could hold the key to future access to affordable=
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newer ARVs. A patent pool is a mechanism whereby a number of patents held=
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by different entities are made available to other interested parties for=0D
production or further development. The patent holders in return receive=0D
royalties paid by those using the patents. The pool manages the licenses,=
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patent negotiations, and royalty payments, which streamlines the process. A=
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patent pool could facilitate, for example, the development of pediatric=0D
formulations or much-needed fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) for less toxic=
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first-line, and for second-line treatments, for which patents on individual=
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compounds otherwise pose a barrier. It could also help speed up the=0D
availability of generic versions of new medicines, as production could=0D
begin well before the 20-year patent terms expire. Critical to a patent=0D
pool=E2=80=99s success, however, is the willingness of the patent holders t=
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include their patent rights in the pool.=0D
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This session will provide a briefing on the UNITAID patent pool, explore=0D
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pros and cons of patent pools and will be followed by a discussion.=0D
Speakers will include representatives from the pharmaceutical industry,=0D
UNITAID, and NGOs.=0D
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Speakers:=0D
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Chair: Dr. Sigrun M=C3=B8gedal, Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Foreig=
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Affairs, Norway=0D
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Dr. Jorge Bermudez, Executive Secretary, UNITAID=0D
How a patent pool can help increase access to ARVs=0D
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James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International=0D
Medicines patent pool, lessons from other fields of technology=0D
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Gregg H. Alton, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Gilead=0D
Pharma=E2=80=99s response to the UNITAID patent pool proposal=0D
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Ellen =E2=80=98t Hoen, Director Policy Advocacy, M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=
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Access to new ARVs and pediatric ARV treatments =E2=80=93 opportunities of =
a patent=0D
pool=0D
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Dr Mohga Kamal-Yanni, Senior health and HIV policy advisor, OXFAM GB=0D
Can the patent pool deliver on the need for a systematic approach to patent=
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barriers to access.=0D
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