Pandemics, intellectual property and 'our economy': A worldview analysis of Canada's role in compromising global access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Despite self-congratulatory rhetoric, Canada compromised COVID-19 vaccine equity with policies impeding a proposed global waiver of vaccine intellectual property (IP) rules. To learn from Canada's vaccine nationalism we explore the worldview - a coherent textual picture of the world - in a sample of Government of Canada communications regarding global COVID-19 vaccine sharing. Analysed documents portray risks and disparities as unrelated to the dynamics and power relations of the Canadian and international economies. Against this depoliticised backdrop, economic growth fueled by strict IP rules and free trade is advanced as the solution to inequities. Global vaccine access and distribution are pursued via a charity-focused public-private-partnership approach, with proposals to relax international IP rules dismissed as unhelpful. Rather than a puzzling lapse by a good faith 'middle power', Canada's obstruction of global COVID-19 vaccine equity is a logical and deliberate extension of dominant neoliberal economic policy models. Health sector challenges to such models must prioritise equity in global pandemic governance via politically assertive and less conciliatory stances towards national governments and multilateral organisations. Mobilisation for health equity should transform the overall health-damaging macroeconomic model, complementing efforts based on specific individual health determinants or medical technologies.

Intellectual Property and the Politics of Public Good during COVID-19: Framing Law, Institutions, and Ideas during TRIPS Waiver Negotiations at the WTO.

CONTEXT: To facilitate the manufacturing of COVID-19 medical products, in October 2020 India and South Africa proposed a waiver of certain intellectual property (IP) provisions of a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. After nearly two years, a narrow waiver agreement that did little for vaccine access passed the ministerial despite the pandemic's impact on global trade, which the WTO is mandated to safeguard. METHODS: The authors conducted a content analysis of WTO legal texts, key-actor statements, media reporting, and the WTO's procedural framework to explore legal, institutional, and ideational explanations for the delay. FINDINGS: IP waivers are neither legally complex nor unprecedented within WTO law, yet these waiver negotiations exceeded their mandated 90-day negotiation period by approximately 18 months. Waiver opponents and supporters engaged in escalating strategic framing that justified and eventually secured political attention at head-of-state level, sidelining other pandemic solutions. The frames deployed discouraged consensus on a meaningful waiver, which ultimately favored the status quo that opponents preferred. WTO institutional design encouraged drawn-out negotiation while limiting legitimate players in the debate to trade ministers, empowering narrow interest group politics. CONCLUSIONS: Despite global political attention, the WTO process contributed little to emergency vaccine production, suggesting a pressing need for reforms aimed at more efficient and equitable multilateral processes.

Designing the global vaccine supply chain: balancing intellectual property rights with post COVID-19 vaccine equity.

This article aims to propose practical solutions that coordinate the conflicting interests between the global community and the pharmaceutical industry on the intellectual property (IP) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and facilitate a more equitable vaccine supply chain in the post-COVID-19 world. We critically conducted a narrative literature review to identify procedural and practical issues in the current vaccine supply chain. The search was conducted across various academic disciplines, including biomedical science, life science, law and social science, using resources such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Westlaw. After screening 731 articles, 55 studies were selected for review. The narrative review revealed several critical barriers that hinder vaccine supply in less-developed countries (LDCs) as follows: (1) WTO Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) waiver requests may not be granted due to its stringent consensus rule; (2) the current compulsory license system may not work due to the complexity of IP rights covering COVID-19 vaccine technologies; (3) only a few LDCs have domestic companies capable of manufacturing vaccines, and (4) political and economic tensions among countries exacerbate existing barriers to vaccine distribution in LDCs. Based on these findings, we proposed a comprehensive compulsory license system, which combines TRIPS's compulsory license system with the third-party beneficiary mechanism under Common Law. This integrated approach offers a balanced solution that ensures fair compensation for vaccine developers while facilitating broader vaccine access.

Fortifying Health Care Intellectual Property Transactions With Blockchain.

BACKGROUND: Intellectual property (IP) is a substantial competitive advantage in the health care industry. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for open innovation and collaboration for the greater good. Despite this, the industry faces challenges with innovation owing to organizational and departmental barriers. A secure platform is necessary to facilitate IP sharing without compromising the rights of IP owners. OBJECTIVE: This study proposes a blockchain-based framework to secure IP transactions in health care and bring social impact. METHODS: This study reviews existing researches, publications, practical cases, firm and organization websites, and conferences related to blockchain technology, blockchain in health care, blockchain in IP management, IP pledge research, and practice of IP management blockchain. The platform architecture has 7 components: pledgers, advanced research technology (ART), IP pledge platforms, IP databases, health care research, seeking ART, and transaction condition setting. These components work together seamlessly to support the sharing and pledging of ART and knowledge, while ensuring the platform's transparency, security, and trust. RESULTS: The open IP pledge framework can promote technology dissemination and use, reduce research and development costs, foster collaboration, and serve the public interest. Medical organizations' leadership and support and active participation from stakeholders are necessary for success. By leveraging blockchain technology, the platform ensures tamper-proof and transparent transactions and protects the rights of IP owners. In addition, the platform offers incentive mechanisms through pledge tokens that encourage stakeholders to share their ART and contribute to the platform. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the proposed framework can facilitate technological innovation, tackle various challenges, and secure IP transactions. It provides a secure platform for stakeholders to share their IP without compromising their rights, promoting collaboration and progress in the health care industry. The implementation of the framework has the potential to revolutionize the industry's approach to innovation, allowing a more open and collaborative environment driven by the greater good.

Is Intellectual Property the COVID-19 Bad Guy? Lessons We Could Learn from the Pandemic.

At the time the COVID-19 pandemic was declared there was no vaccine and other medical products were insufficient to meet demands. At the time intellectual property was considered a limitation to an effective pandemic response and the World Trade Organization considered a waiver of intellectual property addressed by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic and TRIPS waiver is that given enough time sufficient medical products will be delivered, albeit there remain some complicated delivery challenges and vaccine hesitancy issues. This column addresses the moment before that medical product saturation and the inherent limitation imposed by industry policies. The column concludes that the private sectors' motivating factors need to be integrated into the design of global public health pandemic responses from the start.

A Needle in a Haystack? Human Rights Framing at the World Trade Organization for Access to COVID-19 Vaccines.

How and why is implicit and explicit human rights language used by World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiators in debates about intellectual property, know-how, and technology needed to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines, and how do these findings compare with negotiators' human rights framing in 2001? Sampling 26 WTO members and two groups of members, this study uses document analysis and six key informant interviews with WTO negotiators, a representative of the WTO Secretariat, and a nonstate actor. In WTO debates about COVID-19 medicines, negotiators scarcely used human rights frames (e.g., "human rights" or "right to health"). Supporters used both human rights frames and implicit language (e.g., "equity," "affordability," and "solidarity") to garner support for the TRIPS waiver proposal, while opponents and WTO members with undetermined positions on the waiver used only implicit language to advocate for alternative proposals. WTO negotiators use human rights frames to appeal to previously agreed language about state obligations; for coherence between their domestic values and policy on one hand, and their global policy positions on the other; and to catalyze public support for the waiver proposal beyond the WTO. This mixed-methods design yields a rich contextual understanding of the modern role of human rights language in trade negotiations relevant for public health.

Características actuales de la población pediátrica asistida en un centro de salud del primer nivel de atención en 2020-2021: Montevideo, Uruguay / Characteristics of the pediatric population assisted at primary care level in Montevideo, Uruguay / Características da população pediátrica assistida no nível de atenção primária em Montevidéu, Uruguai

Introducción: alrededor del 30% de las enfermedades infantiles responden a factores sociofamiliares y ambientales, asociados a condiciones de vida, dinámica familiar y exposición a sustancias tóxicas. Conocer las características de la población pediátrica que asiste este centro de salud nos ayudará a identificar factores que pueden estar influyendo en su salud. Objetivos: Describir las características clínico-epidemiológicas de la población menor de 15 años que recibió asistencia en el Centro de Salud Badano Repetto en el período 2020-2021. Conocer diferentes variables que pueden influir en la salud de esta población Identificar asociación de variables familiares y socioculturales con el desarrollo en las diferentes edades. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, corte transversal. Se incluyó una muestra por conveniencia del 15% del total de los niños y adolescentes menores de 15 años asistidos en el centro de salud desde 1/10/2020 hasta 31/3/2021. Variables estudiadas: del niño: sexo, edad, antecedentes perinatales, crecimiento y desarrollo, controles en salud, inmunizaciones, escolarización, actividades extracurriculares. De los padres: edad, nivel educativo, consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, antecedentes patológicos, empleo, privación de libertad. Familia y vivienda: estado civil de los padres, antecedentes de violencia doméstica, convivientes, características de la vivienda, servicios básicos, transferencias directas de ayuda, intervención de equipos de territorio. Fuente de datos: historias clínicas y vía telefónica. Registro en planilla prediseñada. Los resultados se expresan en frecuencias absolutas, relativas y medidas de tendencia central con su rango. Se utilizó test de Chi cuadrado o exacto de Fisher. Nivel de significación: 0,05. Programa Epi Info™ versión 7.2. Consentimiento informado telefónico a padres y asentimiento a adolescentes. Aprobado por el Comité de Ética del CHPR. Resultados: consultaron 2.826 menores de 15 años, se incluyeron 426 (15%), pero solo 263 (62%) fueron analizados, dado que 163 (38%) no pudieron ser contactados telefónicamente. El 52% eran de sexo femenino. Media de edad: 4 años (5 días-14 años), 69% ≤5 años. 83% de los pacientes tenían adecuados controles de salud y 91% estaban al día con sus inmunizaciones. 12% tenían sobrepeso/obesidad. El desarrollo neurológico fue adecuado en 93% en los menores de 5 años y en 56% de los mayores de 5 años de edad. En el caso de aquellos con trastornos del neurodesarrollo mayores de 5 años, 46% tenían trastornos del aprendizaje, 39% trastorno de conducta, 32% trastornos del lenguaje, 10% déficit intelectual. 56% estaba escolarizado, todos en escuelas públicas. En el caso de aquellos que no asistían a la escuela, 4 estaban en edad de asistencia obligatoria (6, 7, 9 y 10 años de edad). 20% de los niños/adolescentes había repetido por lo menos un año en escuela o liceo. Datos perinatales: 14% de las madres consumieron drogas; las más frecuentes fueron tabaco y pasta base de cocaína (PBC). 85% fueron recién nacidos de término, 10% presentaron depresión neonatal. 15% de niños/ adolescentes estuvo expuesto a violencia doméstica y 32% de ellos (12/38) tenía por lo menos un padre con uso de drogas psicoactivas en el domicilio. 21% de los niños/adolescentes expuestos a violencia doméstica tenía una dificultad de aprendizaje. 8% de estos pacientes tenía por lo menos un padre que no había terminado educación primaria y 28% que no había terminado ciclo básico. Se encontró una relación significativa entre uso de drogas psicoactivas, declarada por uno o ambos padres, y violencia doméstica. No se encontró una relación significativa entre alteración del neurodesarrollo y violencia doméstica. Conclusiones: estos hallazgos muestran una población social y económicamente vulnerable, padres con baja escolaridad, uso de pasta base de cocaína durante el embarazo en un porcentaje mayor al reportado nacionalmente, y 15% de niños/adolescentes expuestos a violencia doméstica, pero con un buen número de controles de salud. La mayor fortaleza encontrada por este estudio es la importancia de mantener una buena conexión con estas familias, que mostraron un alto nivel de compromiso con el centro de salud. Esto nos desafía a priorizar la prevención y promoción en salud como herramientas valiosas para adquirir salud de calidad para estos niños/adolescentes. Nuevos estudios, con otras metodologías, serán necesarios para analizar estas variables encontradas.

Introduction: around 30% of childhood diseases are caused by social, environmental and family issues, as well as by life conditions, family dynamics and exposure to toxic substances. Understanding the characteristics of the pediatric population assisted at this Health Center, will help us identify health-threatening factors. Objectives: Describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the population under 15 years of age assisted at Badano Repetto Health Center between 2020 and 2021. Understand the different variables that could influence this population´s health. Identify the link between family, social and cultural variables and neurological development at different ages. Methodology: descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling of 15% of the total number of children and adolescents under 15 years of age, assisted at the Health Center from 10/01/2020 to 3/31/2021. Variables: children: sex, age, perinatal history, growth and neurological development, health checkups, vaccines, school attendance, extracurricular activities. Parents: age, education, psychoactive substance use, pathological background, job, prison. Family and household: parent`s marital status, domestic violence history, cohabitants, housing characteristics, basic household services, government aids, community interventions. Data source: medical records and telephone conversations. Data was recorded on template charts. We used results in absolute and relative frequencies, and their measures of central tendency measures and their range, Chi-square test or Fisher´s exact test. Significance level 0,05. Epi Info Program, version 7.2. Informed parent and adolescent consent. Approved by the CHPR Ethics Committee. Results: out of the 2826 patients under 15 years of age assisted at the clinic, we included 426 (15%), but only 263 (62%) were analyzed, since we were not able to reach 163 (38%) by phone. 52% were female. The average age was 4 years of age (5 days-14 years old). 69% of children were under 5 years old. 83% of patients had adequate number of checkups and 91% had an updated vaccination chart. 12% were overweight/obese. Neurodevelopment was adequate in 93% of those under 5 years of age, and 56% of those over 5 years of age. Regarding those with neurodevelopmental difficulties and over 5 years of age, 46% had learning disabilities, 39% had behavioral disorders, 32% language disorders, 10% intellectual deficit. 56% attended school, all of them public schools. For those who did not attend school, 4 of them were old enough to attend mandatory school (6, 7, 9 and 10 years of age). 20% of the children and adolescents had failed at least one year in school or high school. Perinatal findings: 14% of mothers had substance use during pregnancy, mainly tobacco and cocaine base paste. 85% of them had been born to term, 10% had neonatal depression 15% of children/adolescents had been exposed to domestic violence and 32% of them (12/38) had one parent with psychoactive drug use at home. 21% of children/adolescents exposed to domestic violence had a learning disability. 8% had at least one parent who did not finish primary school and 28% who did not finish middle school. Statistically, a significant link was found between psychoactive substance use, declared by one or both parents, and domestic violence. No statistically significant link was found between neurodevelopmental difficulties and domestic violence. Conclusions: these findings show a socially and economically vulnerable population, parents with little formal education, higher cocaine paste base use during pregnancy than the national statistics and 15% of children/adolescents exposed to domestic violence, even though they a high number of them had received their health checkups. The biggest strength shown by this study is the importance of maintaining a good bond with these families, who showed a high level of commitment with the health center. This leads us to prioritize health prevention and promotion as a valuable tool to achieve health quality standards for these children and adolescents. New studies, using other methodologies, will be necessary to analyze this data.

Introdução: cerca de 30% das doenças infantis são causadas por questões sociais, ambientais e familiares, bem como por condições de vida, dinâmica familiar e exposição a substâncias tóxicas. Compreender as características da população pediátrica atendida neste Centro de Saúde, nos ajudará a identificar fatores de risco à saúde. Objetivos: Descrever as características clínico-epidemiológicas da população menor de 15 anos de idade atendida no Centro de Saúde Badano Repetto no período 2020-2021. Compreender diferentes variáveis que podem influenciar a saúde dessa população. Identificar uma relação entre as variáveis familiares e socioculturais e o desenvolvimento em diferentes idades. Metodologia: estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, transversal. Foi incluída uma amostra por conveniência de 15% de todas as crianças e adolescentes menores de 15 anos atendidos no Centro de Saúde entre 01/10/2020 e 31/03/2021. Variáveis estudadas: da criança: sexo, idade, história perinatal, crescimento e desenvolvimento, controles de saúde, imunizações, escolaridade, atividades extracurriculares. Dos pais: idade, escolaridade, consumo de substâncias psicoativas, histórico médico, emprego, privação de liberdade. Família e habitação: estado civil dos pais, história de violência doméstica, coabitantes, características da moradia, serviços básicos, transferências de ajuda de custo, intervenção das equipes no território. Fonte de dados: prontuários e enquetes telefônicas. Cadastro em planilha padrão. Os resultados são expressos em frequências absolutas e relativas e medidas de tendência central com sua amplidão. Utilizou-se o teste do qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher. Nível de significância 0,05. Programa Epi Info™ versão 7.2. Consentimento informado por telefone pais e consentimento dos adolescentes. Aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do CHPR. Resultados: 2.826 crianças menores de 15 anos consultadas, 426 (15%) foram incluídas, mas 263 (62%) foram analisadas, pois 163 (38%) não puderam ser contatadas por telefone. 52% eram do sexo feminino. Idade média 4 anos (5 dias -14 anos), 69% ≤ 5 anos. 83% dos pacientes possuíam controles de saúde adequados e 91% estavam com suas imunizações em dia. 12% com sobrepeso/obesidade. O desenvolvimento neurológico foi adequado em 93% dos menores de 5 anos e em 56% dos maiores de 5 anos. No caso dos portadores de transtornos de neurodesenvolvimento com mais de 5 anos, 46% apresentavam transtorno de aprendizagem, 39% transtorno de conduta, 32% transtorno de linguagem, 10% déficit intelectual. 56% estavam na escola, todos em escolas públicas. No caso dos que não frequentaram a escola, 4 deles estavam em idade em idade escolar obrigatória (6, 7, 9 e 10 anos). 20% das crianças/adolescentes repetiram pelo menos um ano na escola ou no ensino médio. Dados perinatais: 14% das mães usavam drogas; pasta base de tabaco e maiormente pasta base de cocaína (PBC). 85% eram recém-nascidos a termo, 10% tinham depressão neonatal. 15% das crianças/adolescentes foram expostos à violência doméstica e 32% deles (12/38) tinham pelo menos um dos pais que usava drogas psicoativas em casa. 21% das crianças/adolescentes expostas à violência doméstica tinham dificuldade de aprendizagem. 8% desses pacientes possuíam pelo menos um dos pais com escola primária incompleta e 28% com ensino médio incompleto. Encontrou-se relação significativa entre o uso de drogas psicoativas, declarado por um ou ambos os pais, e a violência doméstica. Não foi encontrada relação significativa entre transtornos do neurodesenvolvimento e violência doméstica. Conclusões: esses achados mostram uma população social e economicamente vulnerável, pais com baixa escolaridade, uso de pasta base de cocaína durante a gravidez em porcentagem superior ao reportado a nível nacional, e 15% de crianças/adolescentes expostos à violência doméstica, mas com um alto número de controles de saúde. A maior fortaleza encontrada por este estudo é a importância de manter um bom vínculo com essas famílias, que demonstraram alto nível de comprometimento com o centro de saúde. Isso nos leva a priorizar a prevenção e promoção da saúde como ferramentas valiosas para a aquisição de saúde de qualidade para essas crianças/adolescentes. Novos estudos, com outras metodologias, serão necessários para poder analisar essas variáveis encontradas.

Exploring risks of investor claims brought forth after the TRIPS waiver for COVID-19.

This research plans to explore the risks of the investment claims involved in the ongoing technology transfers to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers based on the recently approved 'Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights' (TRIPS) waiver. These investment claims are based on the various intellectual property rights protected under international investment laws. The recently approved TRIPS waiver only deals with the patent rights involved in producing the COVID-19 vaccine but does not deal with the other related intellectual property rights such as trade secrets. This work sounds the alarm of investment dispute for the mass-production of vaccines based on the TRIPS waiver. The research suggests a plan by which the Indian government can address the global issue of COVID-19 technology transfer in India.

Concessão rápida de patentes para enfrentamento da COVID-19 no Brasil

[RESUMO]. Com o objetivo de estimular a produção e o licenciamento de novas tecnologias, o Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI), autarquia responsável pela concessão de patentes no Brasil, criou uma moda- lidade de trâmite prioritário para processos de patentes relativos a inovações que possam ser usadas no combate à COVID-19. Os primeiros efeitos dessa medida institucional foram avaliados no presente trabalho, a partir da identificação e análise do tempo dos processos prioritários de patente solicitados por ofício pelo Ministério da Saúde ou por meio de petição pelos próprios depositantes. Os resultados demonstram que o INPI foi capaz de atender de forma exitosa à emergência de saúde pública, concedendo patentes em um período médio de 5,3 meses a contar do pedido de priorização, um tempo consideravelmente inferior à média exigida nos processos usuais.

[ABSTRACT]. With the objective of stimulating the production and licensing of new technologies, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), the agency responsible for granting patents in Brazil, created a priority or fast track procedure for patent processes related to innovations that can be used against COVID-19. The first effects of this institutional measure are assessed in the present work, based on the identification and analysis of the time elapsed between fast track requests by the Ministry of Health or through petition by the depositors themsel- ves. The results demonstrate that the INPI was able to successfully respond to the public health emergency by granting patents on average 5.3 months after the fast track request, a time considerably shorter than the average required in usual processes.

[RESUMEN]. Con objeto de estimular la producción y el otorgamiento de licencias de nuevas tecnologías, el Instituto Nacio- nal de la Propiedad Industrial (INPI), entidad autónoma responsable de la concesión de patentes en Brasil, creó una modalidad de trámite prioritario para los procesos de concesión de patentes relativas a innovaciones que puedan emplearse en la lucha contra la COVID-19. En este trabajo se evaluaron los primeros efectos de esa medida institucional, al determinar y analizar la duración de los procesos prioritarios de concesión de patentes solicitados por medio de comunicación oficial del Ministerio de Salud o de una petición presentada por los propios solicitantes. Los resultados demuestran que el INPI pudo atender con éxito la emergencia de salud pública, al conceder patentes en un período promedio de 5,3 meses contados a partir de la fecha de presen- tación de la solicitud de priorización, un tiempo considerablemente inferior al promedio exigido en los procesos habituales.

A Global Intellectual Property Waiver is Still Needed to Address the Inequities of COVID-19 and Future Pandemic Preparedness.

In October 2020, India and South Africa submitted a proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to suspend IP on all COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics until widespread vaccination could help achieve immunity among people in low- and middle-income countries. After 18 months, the final WTO Decision substantially watered down the original text proposed by India and South Africa, limiting it only to patents on vaccines and the use of protected clinical trial data for regulatory approval. We address why an IP waiver under TRIPS consistent with the one originally proposed by India and South Africa is still needed to not only meet the ongoing inequities of COVID-19, but also to ensure the right precedent for future equitable pandemic preparedness and other crises affecting the global South. To meet the multilateral goals of the WTO, an IP waiver as proposed by India and South Africa is still needed to increase manufacturing capability for vaccines, therapeutics, and other COVID-19 health-related technologies.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the TRIPS Waiver: Patents and Flexibility.

The World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) provides for global minimum standard patents. These patents potentially limit access to products and processes for the surveillance, tracking, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. A possible solution currently under consideration is a TRIPS waiver of the implementation, application and enforcement for the prevention, containment or treatment of COVID-19. This article addresses the ways that TRIPS patents might be mediated including through TRIPS flexibilities. The article argues that there are sufficient means of derogating from patents (and potentially copyright, industrial designs and undisclosed information), although they alone will not resolve the access problems. The article concludes that the key patent problem is the transfer of know-how and that developing new ideas about addressing these patent know-how transfers is the presently unaddressed challenge.

Boletín Informativo NotiSalud Andinas diciembre 2021 / Newsletter NotiSalud Andinas december 2021

La edición 59 del boletín NotiSalud andinas presenta la salud en los países andinos y los retos frente a la covid-19: 50 años de trabajo unidos por el derecho a la salud y al bienestar, con justicia social y ambiental. Actividades de diciembre: Foro Salud y Economía: Protección social universal, un objetivo urgente, Foro Andino Interministerial e Intersectorial hacia la Salud y el Bienestar de todas las Personas, Reunión de autoridades nacionales de salud de la región Andina. Curso virtual sobre propiedad intelectual: aplicación de flexibilidades y acceso a medicamentos. Concurso "Experiencias significativas en telesalud en la región Andina". Resumen de los webinar: Los niños, niñas y adolescentes como prosumidores de podcast sobre sus derechos, Derecho a la salud: agenda urgente. Webinar N° 100: 50 Años del ORAS-CONHU: Compartimos logros y desafíos.

Intellectual Property Rights and Vaccines.

Over the past 20 years, there has been steady, year-on-year growth in the number of granted vaccine-related patents. It is therefore important that those involved in vaccine research should be aware of both the risks and opportunities that patents create. The aim of this chapter is to offer a brief introduction to how, and when, patent rights might become available to vaccine developers and to explain the potential risk of infringement of third-party patent rights and the potential consequences.This chapter begins with a brief introduction to the patent application process and the international patent systems. The advantages and drawbacks of patent protection are discussed, followed by an overview of patent infringement and the various legal safe-harbors that may be available for certain research activities. Other features of the patent system which may be of particular relevance in the vaccines context are also discussed, such as compulsory licensing, sovereign states' rights to use patented inventions and voluntary technology sharing agreements. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and recent developments in the field of vaccine patents that have arisen as part of the international response.

A concise framework to facilitate open COVID pledge of non-disclosed technologies: In terms of non-disclosed patent applications and trade secrets.

BACKGROUND: As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, many intellectual property (IP) owners have signed on to the "Open COVID Pledge", an agreement that makes corporate and university IP available free of charge for the purpose of facilitating the development of technologies that will end the pandemic and minimize the impact of disease. Joining this pledge is relatively straightforward for already-disclosed IPs. However, few, if any, has considered how to encourage owners of "non-disclosed patent applications" and "trade secrets" to sign on to this meaningful pledge. In other words, so far there is no proposal to extend the Open COVID Pledge for confidential pending patents and trade secrets. METHODS: We propose an innovative and flexible framework to cover both non-disclosed patent applications and trade secrets to mobilize inventors to participate in the Open COVID Pledge. RESULTS: By focusing on immediate publication of the patent-applying technology and extending provisional right to such applications which is subject to the Open Pledge during this pandemic, our recommendations are workable for inventors who would like to pledge their non-disclosed technologies for the detection, prevention and treatment of the COVID-19, in the meantime preserving their IP rights for the post-pledge period. CONCLUSION: This paper offers a way forward to guide pledgers and implementers who are interested in supporting the effort by addressing some of the issues associated with the free sharing of non-disclosed patent applications and trade secrets in the fight against COVID-19.