"A Review of IP and Non-IP Incentives for R&D for Diseases of Poverty.What Type of Innovation is Required and How Can We Incentivise the Private Sector to Deliver It?"
Adrian Towse, Office of Health Economics (UK) and Hannah Kettler, Gates Foundation
This study has been commissioned to provide a review of market and intellectual property (IP) related proposals to stimulate more innovation in combination with a study of the importance of incremental versus breakthrough innovation. The study examines what type of innovation is required to tackle global health problems? In particular what mix of incremental innovation and breakthrough innovation is required? It also looks at whether existing IP (patents plus other forms of exclusivity) could be modified to provide incentives for R&D into global health diseases. Although the main emphasis is on IP related incentives, the study also analyses how these IP laws compare with other methods of funding / incentivising R&D for diseases of poverty. The study includes, as a minimum, consideration of orphan drug legislation, paediatric initiatives, patent buyouts and tax credits.