Medicines Law & Policy releases analysis, tools, and data to influence policy and practices to improve access to medicines.

Pandemic Agreement

ML&P has been closely following the process towards the creation of a new international instrument to better prevent, prepare...

Our research

ML&P delves into complex public health issues, seeking to make the legal implications of international legislation clearer, and to...

Blog

Medicines Law & Policy periodically will post timely analysis and insight into current events related to intellectual property and...

TRIPS Flexibilities Database

The TRIPS Flexibilities Database contains instances when authorities have invoked, planned to invoke, or have been asked to invoke...

Latest Blog Posts from Medicines Law & Policy

Chile’s Technology and Knowledge Transfer Bill passes Congress with important commitments on socially responsible licensing, transparency

Kaitlin Mara -
On 9 June, the Chilean Congress approved a Technology and Knowledge Transfer bill (Ley de Transferencia de Tecnología y Conocimiento) that makes important strides...

World Health Organization Members ask for more time to solve difficult negotiations on access and benefit sharing

Kaitlin Mara and Ellen 't Hoen -
World Health Organization member states will propose to continue negotiations on a critical annex to the Pandemic Agreement, after being unable to bridge key...

Medicines Law & Policy statement at WHO PABS negotiations (IGWG 5)

Ellen 't Hoen -
Co-chairs, Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words.  My comments address issues related to technology transfer (TT), a topic we have been...

Legal tools that lower medicines prices have expanded access to medicines for over two decades, research reveals

Montgomery Dunn -
LONDON, UK: Millions of people are priced out of access to life-saving medicines. Use of legal tools to reduce prices has been under-reported and...

Wrapping up 2025: A tumultuous year for global public health law & policy

Medicines Law & Policy -
The end of 2025, a tumultuous year for global public health, is here, and it’s time for the usually highly biased Medicines Law &...

The Role of Activism in Shaping Law and Policies that Support Access to Medicines

Ellen 't Hoen -
This article is also available as a PDF here. Almost 26 years ago, here in Amsterdam, on November 25-26, 1999, Health Action International, Médecins Sans...

Affordability, binding commitments to technology sharing, and transparency key in Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing

Ellen 't Hoen -
We appreciate the opportunity to offer comments on the draft PABS annex text . Some preliminary comments: Affordability of Access: The current draft mentions "providing access...

Generic versions of a lifesaving cystic fibrosis treatment will save patients $360,000 a year – expanding access and prolonging lives

Kaitlin Mara -
Generic versions of a cystic fibrosis treatment will now be available at $6,375 per child, per year under a new scheme – offering hope...

The IGWG process offers an opportunity to fulfil the equity objectives of the Pandemic Agreement

Ellen 't Hoen -
Co-Chairs,  Thank you for the opportunity to make a brief intervention. Both the sharing of pathogens and the sharing of the benefits, including products and knowledge,...

WHO Members meet to finalise the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Instrument

Ellen 't Hoen -
In May 2025, the WHO member states adopted the Pandemic Agreement, but they left the work to establish an instrument for Pathogen Access and...
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Medicines Law & Policy
Ellen 't Hoen
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Research Highlights

Pharmaceutical patents and data exclusivity in an age of AI-driven drug discovery and development

Medicines Law & Policy

14 April 2025

Current drafts of the WHO Pandemic Accord lack a provision for access to knowhow/trade secrets. We drafted one.

Medicines Law & Policy

15 July 2022

Seven recommendations for sharing IP, know-how and technology – report of Global Expert Group on the Pandemic Treaty

BMJ Global Health

15 July 2022

Scaling-up Vaccine Production Capacity: Legal Challenges and Recommendations

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

May 2021

What is the ‘know-how gap’ problem and how might it impact scaling up production of Covid-19 related diagnostics, therapies and vaccines?

Medicines Law & Policy

May 2021

EU Review of Pharmaceutical Incentives: Recommendations for Change

Medicines Law & Policy

May 2021

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