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

2. 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

3. Why do the access and research gaps exist?

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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