The Institute & the Roundtable for Medicine Patents
On February 19, 2016, Rospatent held a roundtable on "the Patenting of Medicines and Methods of Treatment: whether or not the balance of interests is respected".
Participants in the meeting were Deputy Director of the Russian Government Administration Nelli Naigovzina, representatives of ministries and agencies, development institutions, pharmaceutical businesses, patent attorneys, regional support centres of technology and innovation, and independent experts. A special focus of the discussion was given to possible obstacles to the market entry of generic drugs.
Alexey Ivanov made a report on the experience of the BRICS countries in the field of regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. Alexey noted that Russia doesn't use any of the existing TRIPS exemptions for economic development – nor in regard to healthcare and education, nor for the fostering of competition. But, for example, India flexibly regulates and even abandons patent protection in the health sector for relatively short time periods in order to build a national pharmaceutical industry, which has become a powerful and innovative industry. In South Africa under President Nelson Mandela there was permitted free use of patented drugs for HIV treatment. "Mandela's courage in defending the national interests helped to arrest the HIV epidemic, to build a national pharmaceutical industry and a healthcare system accessible to wide sectors of the population," said Alexey.
Alexey Ivanov made a report on the experience of the BRICS countries in the field of regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. Alexey noted that Russia doesn't use any of the existing TRIPS exemptions for economic development – nor in regard to healthcare and education, nor for the fostering of competition. But, for example, India flexibly regulates and even abandons patent protection in the health sector for relatively short time periods in order to build a national pharmaceutical industry, which has become a powerful and innovative industry. In South Africa under President Nelson Mandela there was permitted free use of patented drugs for HIV treatment. "Mandela's courage in defending the national interests helped to arrest the HIV epidemic, to build a national pharmaceutical industry and a healthcare system accessible to wide sectors of the population," said Alexey.
"Intellectual property issues are crucial in the pharmaceuticals market," said Timofey Nizhegorodtsev, head of the FAS Department for Regulation of Trade and the Social Sphere. He cited the main problems being restricted competition in the medication market, problems associated with pharmacological components and active substances, therapeutics, region-specific issues, the patterns of use and effects of drugs, and patent factors.
A summary of the meeting was delivered by Deputy Director of the Russian Government Administration Nelli Naigovzina. According to her, the issues that were raised in the meetings represent an intersection of the six powers of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power. On the proposal of Naigovzina, within the framework of the Skolkovo Foundation, the Institute for Law and Development will create a review working group, which will engage in detailed study of legislation change, taking into account the interests of all players and economic factors and effects.