As the result of the well-received article entitled How Market-Based Policies Could Spur Biotechnology Growth In Russia, recently co-authored by ITSSD President/CEO Lawrence Kogan and Russian government lawyer Yelena Bakulina, accessible at: http://www.wlf.org/upload/03-21-08balukina.pdf; http://www.insideronline.org/summary.cfm?id=7019; and http://www.itssd.org/Publications/03-21-08balukina.pdf , the ITSSD was invited to deliver a presentation at the 9th International Forum on High Technology of the 21st Century, convened by the Moscow Entrepreneur's Association and the U.S.-based Mid-Atlantic Russian Business Council on April 24, 2008.
Information about the event, which took place at the Moscow ExpoCenter, is accessible at: http://ma-rbc.org/event/9hightech.html .
The ITSSD powerpoint presentation is accessible at: http://www.itssd.org/Programs/KoganPresentationMidAtlanticRussiaBusinessCouncilMoscowExhibitionApril2008.ppt .
Monday, May 19, 2008
ITSSD President Delivers Presentation at Moscow Entrepreneur's Association
Saturday, May 17, 2008
ITSSD President Participates in Moscow EurasiaBIO Conference Following Well-Received IP Tech Transfer Article
As the result of the well-received article entitled How Market-Based Policies Could Spur Biotechnology Growth In Russia, recently co-authored by ITSSD President/CEO Lawrence Kogan and Russian government lawyer Yelena Bakulina, accessible at: http://www.wlf.org/upload/03-21-08balukina.pdf; http://www.insideronline.org/summary.cfm?id=7019; and http://www.itssd.org/Publications/03-21-08balukina.pdf , the ITSSD was invited to participate in the First EurasiaBIO Congress Conference convened in Moscow, Russia during April 24-25, 2008.
A copy of the press release announcing the Kogan-Bakulina article appears on the EurasiaBIO website at: http://www.eurasiabio.org/; and http://www.eurasiabio.org/media/news/itssd_russia_can_secure_greatest_biotech_market_advances_following_us_not_eu_innovation_model/
The Official Program of the FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY, BIOENERGY AND BIOECONOMY is accessible at: http://www.eurasiabio.ru/images/Program/Program/EAB%20V19eng%20FINAL-site.doc .
The ITSSD powerpoint presentation delivered at the EurasiaBIO event is accessible at:
http://www.itssd.org/Programs/KoganPresentationEurasiaBIOMoscowConferenceApril2008.ppt .
The EurasiaBIO Congress is the global event for Biotechnology and Renewable Energy in Russia and CIS countries. The Congress is hosted by the Yu.A. Ovchynnikov Russian Biologists Society and the Russian National Biofuel Asociation. The event offers an unparalleled opportunity for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and energy companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather in one place at one time to learn about each other, meet one-on-one, and discuss business opportunities of mutual interest.
The EurasiaBIO is supported by:
The State Duma of the Russian Federation Ministry of Industry and Energetics of the Russian Federation Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian FederationRussian Academy of SciencesRussian Academy of Agricultural SciencesEuropean Federation of BiotechnologyEuropean Commission Research DG
Friday, April 4, 2008
Indian Government Should Be Applauded for Recognizing Need to Protect Private Property Rights in Costly Drug Patents
Govt may use compulsory licensing for drug companies only in emergency
3 Apr, 2008
By Sanjeev Choudhary & Khomba Singh,
Economic Times from TNN
NEW DELHI: Global drug companies that under attack from Indian generic companies and healthcare groups on compulsory licensing (CL) issue can breathe easy. The government will not invoke CL unless the country is faced with an epidemic-like situation. It feels that the recent applications for CL may not be able to convince the government to take the extreme step. Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma has recently applied for CL to export generic versions of two cancer drugs —Roche’s Tarceva and Pfizer’s Sutent—to Nepal.“We are not in favour of CL unless there is an extraordinary problem. There is no point in going in for CL unless there is an epidemic which impacts a large chunk of the population, and needs immediate solution, ” a senior official of DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion), the nodal government department which oversees patent offices in India told ET.
On being asked if a disease like cancer may qualify under CL, he said, “It may not.” In addition to Natco Pharma, an NGO Cancer Patient’s Aid Association (CPAA) with the support of Indian and global NGOs is planning to demand CL for about 20 cancer drugs.
CPPA say that the cost of patented cancer drugs are highly expensive and deny access to treatment to thousands of cancer patients in the country. Once a drug gets patent, the government provides the innovator company with exclusive marketing rights of the drug for 20 years from the date of grant of the patent.
However, under the product patent laws in India and other countries, the government can invoke CL to enable non-patent drug makers to manufacture and sell patented drugs in national or public interest. The government is of the view that the provision in the law for CL is there to deal with extraordinary situations and safeguard national interest.
“Research-based companies invest millions of dollars and several years of research to develop new products and secure their patent. We respect genuine research and can’t infringe upon any company’s patent rights without much reason, ” the official added.
The government’s thinking seems to be in sync with the views of research-based drug companies. Organisation of pharmaceutical manufacturers and producers (OPPI) (which represents research based companies in India) VP Tapan Ray said, “CL is a provision in the patent law which the government can use to meet the demand in unusual circumstances like epidemic for a limited period. CL should not be invoked for anything else. If it is invoked for any other reason, the whole sanctity of patent gets lost.”
