SOCIETY
UN-led initiative will advance research in neglected tropical diseases
Baku, August 25 (AZERTAC). Research into neglected tropical diseases such as tuberculosis and sleeping sickness will be boosted thanks to three agreements arranged through a consortium led by the UN's intellectual property agency.
AstraZeneca, the global pharmaceutical giant, has concluded agreements with two universities—one in the United States, the other in the United Kingdom—and a pharmaceutical company in South Africa.
The agreements are the first partnerships under WIPO Re:Search, which brings together the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), private sector companies, research institutions and other groups.
Tom Bombelles, a consultant at WIPO in Geneva, says neglected tropical diseases affect up to two billion people worldwide, mostly the poor.
"Many of the effects of these diseases are to stunt growth, to retard cognitive development in children, so they are particularly cruel in that respect in that they disproportionately affect people who already are disadvantaged, and they have the effect of keeping people disadvantaged."
WIPO Re:Search facilitates development of new products to prevent, diagnose and treat neglected tropical diseases by making information available to researchers on a royalty-free basis.
Since its October 2011 launch WIPO Re:Search has grown from 30 members to 50 - from all five continents - today. Under the terms of WIPO Re:Search, organizations agree to make available intellectual property assets (such as pharmaceutical compounds, drug discovery technologies, regulatory data, and know-how), to qualified researchers anywhere in the world on a royalty-free basis, provided the research is focused on neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and tuberculosis. Any products resulting from this research will also be royalty-free for sales in least developed countries (LDCs).
Neglected tropical diseases are endemic in 149 countries and affect more than one billion people worldwide. By providing a searchable, public database of relevant, available intellectual property assets, information, and resources, WIPO Re:Search facilitates new research partnerships. BIO Ventures for Global Health, as the Partnership Hub Administrator, actively identifies partnership opportunities between members and facilitates collaborations to drive the development of new products for neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and tuberculosis.