[Ip-health] Invitation to MSF Briefing at the 61st WHA- Putting IGWG into action: Harnessing alternative mechanisms to boost R&D for tuberculosis

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

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Dear All,=0D
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We have the pleasure to send you below, an invitation to a MSF briefing on=
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21 May 2008 at the 61st WHA.=0D
Please RSVP confirming your attendance to: mai.do@msf.org=0D
For further information, please contact: Mai Do on + 33 1 4021 2825   or=0D
Clio van Cauter on +41 78 747 2900.=0D
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Sincerely yours,=0D
=0D
Mai DO=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Tel: 33 1 4021 2825=0D
Fax: 33 1 4021 2960=0D
E-mail: mai.do@paris.msf.org=0D
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=0D
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M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res (MSF) briefing to 61st World Health Asse=
mbly=0D
delegations=0D
=0D
Putting IGWG into action:=0D
Harnessing alternative mechanisms to boost R&D for tuberculosis=0D
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Wednesday 21 May 2008, 17.30-19.00=0D
Palais des Nations,  Room XI=0D
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During the 61st World Health Assembly in May 2008, member states of the=0D
World Health Organization (WHO) will finalise the progress made by the=0D
Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and=0D
Intellectual Property (IGWG).=0D
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Part of the IGWG=E2=80=99s global strategy and plan of action calls for exp=
loring=0D
and promoting =E2=80=9Ca range of incentive schemes for research and develo=
pment=0D
including addressing, where appropriate, the de-linkage of the costs of=0D
research and development and the price of health products, for example=0D
through the award of prizes, with the objective of addressing diseases=0D
which disproportionately affect developing countries.=E2=80=9D=0D
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Tuberculosis (TB) is the perfect illustration of the need for new=0D
diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. While TB kills 1.6 million people every=0D
year, the most widely used diagnostic technique, developed more than 120=0D
years ago, detects less than half of all active TB cases.  The=0D
difficulties, faced by MSF teams and others, posed by the lack of=0D
reliable, rapid ways to diagnose TB are compounded by the emergence of=0D
strains of TB resistant to standard treatments, and by the spread of the=0D
disease among people living with HIV/AIDS.=0D
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With the aim of giving the IGWG strategy a concrete outcome, this briefing=
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will explore alternative mechanisms to boost R&D for this disease.   It is=
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now time to translate policy proposals into action.=0D
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Chair: Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, Director of MSF Access Campaign (5 mn)=
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=C2=B7       The need for new tools to control TB, by Dr. Mario Raviglione,=
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World Health Organization, Stop TB Department (10 mn)=0D
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=C2=B7       The challenges to control and treat TB in Swaziland, by Ms=0D
Nomathemba Dlamini, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health of=0D
Swaziland (10 mn) (tbc)=0D
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=C2=B7       Inadequacies of current tools to diagnose and treat TB and=0D
expectations of the current R&D pipelines, by Dr. Cathy Hewison, MSF TB=0D
advisor (10 mn)=0D
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=C2=B7       Prizes as an alternative mechanism to boost R&D for TB: Barbad=
os=0D
and Bolivia=E2=80=99s proposal to IGWG for a Prize Fund for development of=
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low-cost rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis, by Maryam Hinds,=0D
Director, Barbados Drug Service Ministry of Health (10 mn)=0D
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=C2=B7       Discussion=0D
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