James Love, Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036, 202-387-8030, james.love@cptech.org

Rising drug costs have prevented essential medicines to parts of the world that can not afford them, and many of the diseases that are rampant in these countries are of little interest to the pharmaceutical industry because R&D will not be profitable. The Doha Declaration on Health requires that member nations implement patent laws in a way that promote public health and insures “access of medicines to all.” Financing Medical R&D depends on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, but evidence suggests that higher levels of intellectual property protections can distort the research agenda and slow the pace of follow up innovations. The presentation will discuss alternative approaches to financing R&D that are more responsive to the public’s needs and that will provide better access to essential drugs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in the session will

• recognize the adverse effects of intellectual property protections in patent laws and trade agreements on access to essential medicines.
• understand alternative approaches to financing drug R&D that will increase access to medicines that will better meet public health needs.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.