ATTENTION: journalists covering biotech, biomedical research, patent law
WHAT:
A one-day conference to address a preeminent challenge of our time: the creation and distribution of essential medicines to the developing world.
Scientists, patient advocates, scholars, attorneys, government officials, and pharmaceutical and biotech executives will discuss best methods of sharing licensed patents to quicken development and production of life-saving and affordable medicines for HIV/AIDS. Such cross-licensing, or “patent pools,” for neglected diseases and HIV/AIDS could facilitate powerful innovation with immediate benefit to millions worldwide.
Panelists will discuss existing biotech patent pools, consider a proposed HIV/AIDS patent pool by UNITAID (affiliated with the World Health Organization), and evaluate additional ways to cross-license patents for neglected diseases.
WHEN:
8:30 am – 5:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6.
WHERE:
Bancroft Hotel, 2680 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA See campus map.
WHO:
Participants include:
- Suzanne Drennon Munck, IP Counselor, FTC Office of Policy and Coordination;
- Ellen ‘t Hoen, Sr. Adviser on Intellectual Property and Medicines Patent Pool, UNITAID, Geneva;
- Sherry Knowles, Sr. Vice President, Corporate IP, GlaxoSmithKline;
- Emi MacLean, US Manager, Doctors Without Borders;
- Gregg Alton, Executive Vice President, Gilead Sciences;
- Suzanne Scotchmer, Professor of Law, Economics, and Public Policy, Berkeley Law;
- Amy Kapczynski, Assistant Professor Berkeley Law.
For a complete speakers list, go to the Patent Pools conference Web page.
DETAILS:
Event is free for media. For more information on the conference or interview requests, please contact:
Rachel Belt rvb2102@columbia.edu (360) 286-5347
The event is co-sponsored by: UC Berkeley School of Law’s Center for Law & Technology; Universities Allied for Essential Medicines; Miller Institute for Global Challenges and the Law; UC Berkeley Science, Technology, and Society Center; and the Henry Wheeler Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases.