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. 2009 Jan;99(1):9-17.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.128769. Epub 2008 Nov 13.

Academic patents and access to medicines in developing countries

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Free PMC article

Academic patents and access to medicines in developing countries

Bhaven N Sampat. Am J Public Health. 2009 Jan.
Free PMC article

Abstract

There is a widespread and growing concern that patents hinder access to life-saving drugs in developing countries. Recent student movements and legislative initiatives emphasize the potential role that research universities in developed countries could have in ameliorating this "access gap." These efforts are based on the assumption that universities own patents on a substantial number of drugs and that patents on these drugs are currently filed in developing countries. I provide empirical evidence regarding these issues and explore the feasibility and desirability of proposals to change university patenting and licensing practices to promote access to medicines in the developing world.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Approvals over time of priority new molecular entity (NME) drugs, nonpriority NME drugs, and non-NME drugs: 1988–2005.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Share of public sector patents, by year, going to (a) priority NME drugs, (b) nonpriority NME drugs, (c) non-NME drugs, and (d) all drugs: 1998–2005. Note. NME = new molecular entity.

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