WHO details virus-related patents in pandemic preparedness report

[tetano]

Executive Summary
In view of the emergence and circulation of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strains,
the recent appearance of H1N1 influenza as a pandemic, and possibly of other pandemic
strains, numerous activities are being conducted to improve the ability of the global
community to respond to influenza. These include the establishment of surveillance
networks, the development of diagnostic reagents and kits, and the development of
vaccines to prevent infection and therapeutics to treat infection.
Within this context, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) currently
negotiate a framework on ?Sharing of Influenza Viruses and Access to Vaccines and Other
Benefits? in an Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) for Member States on Pandemic
Influenza Preparedness (PIP). To assist this group formulate an appropriate intellectual
property approach within the framework, they requested the Director-General of WHO to
seek information from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on PIP-related
patents, including patent applications, in connection with the H5N1 and H1N1 pandemic
virus. Recognizing that the phrase ?in connection with? is rather ambiguous when
searching patents, technical consultations between WIPO and WHO clarified referring to it
as (a) patents or patent applications claiming inventions comprising the virus, a component,
or a derivative of the virus, for diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic purposes, and (b)
where the patent was applied for after the date at which it became clear that that strain of
virus could be of pandemic potential (post 1995 for H5N1 and post-March 2009 for H1N1).

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http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/Influenza_FullReport_01Apr2011.pdf

 

[tetano]

Re: WHO details virus-related patents in pandemic preparedness report

WHO details virus-related patents in pandemic preparedness report
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Apr 1 released a report compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), another United Nations agency, on flu pandemic preparedness patents and patent applications. The report's purpose is to assist the WHO's virus-sharing working group, which over the past several years has been grappling with how to assure that developing countries that share influenza viruses with the international research community and pharmaceutical industry benefit from the resulting vaccines, medications, and diagnostic tests. The WIPO report covers patents related to the H5N1 avian influenza virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. The group identified 27 "patent families" clearly relevant to H5N1 and four patent families relevant to H1N1, all of them involving viral components or derivatives thereof. The authors found 35 more H5N1 and eight more H1N1 patent families that may be relevant. Of the patents that were relevant, 73% were vaccines, 24% were diagnostics, and 3% were therapeutics. None of the patents consisted of a sole element, such as a native virus. They also identified some patents that included known viral sequences. They found a number of patents from developed-world companies that are now co-owned by companies in developing countries, which they said could be an emerging model for ensuring broader access to new technology. The WHO's virus-sharing working group is slated to report on its latest developments at the World Health Assembly, scheduled for May 16 to 24 in Geneva.
Apr 1 WHO/WIPO pandemic influenza patent report


http://www.cidrap.umn.edu//cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/apr0411newsscanflu.html