#19: Drug Licensing and the Pandemic Accord

In this week’s episode, we look at Colombia's recent move in issuing its first compulsory license. The country challenged ViiV Healthcare's monopoly on their patented drug, dolutegravir, an HIV therapeutic, in an attempt to open doors for affordable generic versions and thus improve accessibility & affordability. We explore the nuances of licensing mechanisms - voluntary agreements & compulsory licenses. We discuss their impact on public health and innovation, drawing parallels with past instances. We also delve into the proposed European Union-wide Compulsory Licence and industry perspectives on intellectual property. Hard subject here - and as someone who started out in Pharma I find it hard to put full advocacy behind non-market driven mechanisms. But what does the data say?1. Sudan - https://www.rescue.org/article/fighting-sudan-what-you-need-know-about-crisisSign up to the Global Health Conversations Newsletter! :) 2. Colombia issues compulsory license for https://healthpolicy-watch.news/colombia-issues-compulsory-license-to-get-key-generic-hiv-medicine-dolutegravir/#:~:text=The%20government%20of%20Colombia%20has,the%20patent%20owner%2C%20ViiV%20Healthcare.3. ViiV HEALTHCARE STATEMENT ON COMPULSORY LICENCE FOR DOLUTEGRAVIR IN COLOMBIA https://viivhealthcare.com/hiv-news-and-media/news/company-statements/viiv-healthcare-statement-on-compulsory-licence-for-dolutegravir-in-colombia/ 4. MPP agreement https://medicinespatentpool.org/licence-post/dolutegravir-adult-dtg5. Draft WHO Pandemic Agreement - March 2024 - https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb9/A_inb9_3-en.pdf6. Proposal for article 11b - https://www.southcentre.int/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SV261_240423.pdf7. Paper - Access to medicines after TRIPS: Is compulsory licensing an effective mechanism to lower drug prices? A review of the existing evidence - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468182/8. IFPMA non comprehensive list of voluntary licenses and non-assert declarations: https://www.ifpma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/i2023_2010_07_28_IFPMA_Statement_VoluntaryLicensing_NonAssert_28Ju.pdf9. How The EU Prepares For the Next Global Pandemic Domestically: An Examination of the Union Compulsory Licence  https://genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/how-the-eu-prepares-for-the-next?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=79396&post_id=143395445&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1zo8cv&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email10. GSK position on IP: Support the show