Penn’s Innovations and the Global Poor Facilitating Access to Medicines in Developing Countries Universities Allied for Essential Medicines 22 Mar 2006

The access and research gaps Ten million people die needlessly each year because they do not have access to existing medicines and vaccines Countless others suffer from neglected tropical diseases for which there is little financial incentive for drug development Countless others suffer each year from neglected tropical diseases for which there is little financial incentive for drug development Quick, World Health Organization 2005

Why do the access and research gaps exist?

Universities are major contributors to drug development A recent report found that 15 of the 21 drugs with the most therapeutic impact were derived from federally funded projects at academic centers Overall, universities are responsible for over half of the basic science research in the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee 2000 National Science Foundation 2004

Have other universities tried to address the access and research gaps? Harvard/MGH dual-market license for HIV diagnostics Yale, d4t, and access-minded licensing Emory and Gilead Access Program for the HIV drug emtricitabine Berkeley ‘Socially Responsible Licensing Initiative’ and Center for Neglected Diseases

Environment at Penn One of three pillars of the Penn Compact: “to engage dynamically with communities all over the world...and to exchange knowledge that improves quality of life for all” Chief goal of Penn Center for Technology Transfer: “to commercialize Penn research discoveries for the public good” Growing commitment to global health problems

UAEM at Penn Approach: self-education  collaboration  open dialogue Signed letters from 12 faculty members affirming UAEM’s principles of leveraging Penn’s influence to help close the access and research gaps Similar resolutions passed by the MSG, GAPSA, and the UA Interested students from med, Wharton, law, nursing, and undergraduate schools

UAEM Proposals I Change in principles: adopting the statement that ‘improving global human welfare is the most important goal of university technology transfer’ Change in policies: Access-minded licensing provisions for biomedical innovations Promote research on neglected diseases and work with nontraditional partners that seek to develop medicines for those diseases

UAEM Proposals II The Equitable Access License Includes access provisions for any out-licensed biomedical innovation Works by engendering generic competition in developing countries Neglected-disease policies Facilitate researchers’ participation in public-private partnerships Proactively monitor university innovations for neglected-disease applicability Carve out a ‘research exemption’ for neglected diseases in licenses

Collective Action National rumblings AAAS report on ‘Humanitarian Licensing’ AUTM commitment through the Technology Managers for Global Health Leadership from a critical mass of elite research universities required Opportunity for Penn to elevate its reputation as a pioneer in global health

Summary Given: lack of access to effective medicines is a significant global health problem and Given: major research universities like Penn are important contributors to the development of effective medicines Given: Penn has shown a commitment to leadership in global engagement

Question for Discussion How can Penn ensure access to its biomedical innovations for the global poor?