The Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology at DePaul University and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will examine how patent rights impact access to essential medicines in developing countries at 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 8005. “Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines in the Developing World,” will consider critical issues that arise when medicine and the law intersect with regard to drug access, patent rights and medical innovation. The program is free and open to the public.

An example of the type of issues that have driven debate in this area was raised in March 2007 when health authorities in Thailand decided to use compulsory licenses to obtain low-cost, generic medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. In response, Abbott Laboratories, a multinational, Illinois-based pharmaceutical company, refused to market any new medicines in Thailand, particularly the crucially important heat-stable HIV/AIDS drug lopinavir/ritonavir, which is marketed as Kaletra. Abbott also withdrew all its applications to register drugs in Thailand.

Supporters of Thailand’s actions argued that it followed international trade law and acted responsibly considering the critical need for access to affordable HIV/AIDS medicines throughout the developing world. Abbott, however, countered that such licenses undermine incentives for investments in medical research and development.

A panel of experts representing the medical community, pharmaceutical industry and legal perspectives will share their views in an effort to educate and to suggest ways to balance the need for affordable medicines in developing nations with the intellectual property rights of drug manufacturers and medical innovators.

Speakers will include:

Brook K. Baker—Northeastern University law professor who has consulted extensively in South African law schools and law school clinics in the areas of multiculturalism, human rights and HIV/AIDS.

Ronald A. Cass—Chairman of the Center for the Rule of Law, a non-profit entity dedicated to educating the public about political systems as they relate to the protection of citizen rights from arbitrary and abusive use of government power. Cass also is dean emeritus of the Boston University School of Law and he co-chairs the American Bar Association International Law Section’s Intellectual Property Committee.

Dr. Buddhima Lokuge—Manager of Doctors Without Borders’ Access to Essential Medicines Campaign in the United States. He has experience as a medical practitioner, supervisor and health consultant and has practiced in Afghanistan and Australia. One of his key areas of expertise is the barriers to accessing essential medicines faced by doctors and patients in the developing world.

Sigrid Fry-Revere—Director of bioethics studies at the Cato Institute. Her scholarship includes legal and policy issues in the life sciences, with an emphasis on the social impact of new medical developments.

Matthew Sag—Professor of Law at the DePaul University College of Law. Sag has practiced intellectual property law in the United Kingdom and the United States. His research focuses on, among other things, the effect of intellectual property laws on innovation and technology.

For reservations or more information, contact Vadim Shifrin at 312/362-8415 or vshifrin@depaul.edu.

Note to editors—Reporters who want to cover this program should contact Valerie Phillips, DePaul University, at 312/362-5039 or 312/330-3155 (cell), or Emily Linendoll, Doctors Without Borders, at 212/763-5764 or 646/206-9387 (cell).