“Medical Innovation Prizes instead of Monopolies”
Innovation Inducement Prizes that de-link the cost of R&D from the price of products to increase access to medicines for patients living in Europe and developing countries
Date: May 31, 2011
Time: 09.30 – 18.00
Location: Room. Paul Henri Spaak 1A 002, European Parliament. Brussels
Forum: Public presentations and discussions in the morning followed by invitation-only experts afternoon session.
Hosts: Carl Schlyter MEP, The Greens /EFA and on behalf of the European Parliament Working Group on Innovation, Access to Medicines and Poverty-Related Diseases
With Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), the TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) and MSF
DESCRIPTION
On 18 November 2010, EU policy makers, experts, industry, civil society and patient representatives meet at the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss new models of biomedical innovation and to formulate specific policy recommendations for the European Union in line of the EU Council Conclusions on the EU role in Global Health and the EU Innovation Union 2020 Strategy that have called for further exploration of innovation models that de-link the cost of R&D from the price of medicines.
The 18 November discussion was organised by Eva Joly MEP (The Greens/EFA), Thijs Berman MEP (Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats) and Carl Schlyter MEP (The Greens /EFA) on behalf of the European Parliament Working Group on Innovation, Access to Medicines and Poverty-Related Diseases. With the Support of TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), Health Action International (HAI) Europe, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), and Oxfam.
The meeting concluded that the recent price cuts of patented medicines by various European governments, the lack of important innovation and the growing burden of medicines on national healthcare budgets make it clear that the current model for biomedical innovation is unsustainable and inefficient, both for developing countries and for EU Member States, increasing the calls within EU for new models of medical innovation.
Some of the proposals that were presented and discussed included Innovation Inducement Prizes for a variety of diseases, including cancer, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. These proposals raised interest among EU policy makers and will be discussed by the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on R&D financing and coordination implementing the mandate of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.
The purpose of this new meeting at the European Parliament is to deepen the discussion concerning Innovation Inducement Prizes for biomedical technologies and proposals for prizes to address both developed and developing countries health needs and challenges.
The meeting will have two parts: a morning public session to introduce the concept of innovation inducement prizes and proposals for prizes for both developing and developed countries health challenges. And an afternoon only-by-invitation session where key stakeholders and experts will discuss concrete strategies to move these prize proposals forward.
AGENDA
09:00
Registration and Gathering
09:00-09:15
Welcome
Carl Schlyter, MEP
James Love, Knowledge Ecology International
9:15 – 10:00
(X minutes per panelist; 15 minutes Q&A)
Introduction
Tim Hubbard, Welcome Trust: The role of prizes to reward innovation and sharing of knowledge in health care technologies (confirmed)
10:00 – 11:00
(15 minutes per panelist; 15 minutes Q&A)
Panel 1: Prize Funds for poverty related diseases in developing countries
Michelle Childs, MSF: Prizes for TB diagnostics (confirmed)
Dwayne Spradin, InnoCentive: Experiences with prizes for global health challenges (confirmed)
Respondent: EU Commission – Ruxandra Praghia-Akli (tbc)
11:00 – 12:00
(15 minutes per panelist; 15 minutes Q&A)
Panel 2: Prize Funds for health challenges in developed countries
Michael Behan, Chief Counsel U.S. Senator Sanders: The proposals for a U.S. Medical Innovation Prize Fund and an Open Source Dividend. Prizes to transform drug development incentives and outcomes (confirmed)
James Love, Knowledge Ecology International: The use of innovation prizes to eliminate monopolies for cancer drugs in Europe (confirmed)
HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyn_Moody” Glyn Moody: Innovation inducement prizes as a possible mechanism to unlock the benefits of open innovation models – (confirmed)
Respondent: EU Commission: Benedikt Hermann, responsible for inducement prizes in the European Commission (confirmed)
12:00 – 12:30
Wrap Up discussions and Next Steps
Moderator: Carl Schlyter, MEP
12:30 – 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 – 17:00
Afternoon Expert Session (by invitation only)
Expert session to discuss specific prizes proposals and move concrete policy and legislative recommendations.
Participants: MEPs and staffers, EU Commission, government representatives, academics, experts, pharmaceutical companies and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). 35-40 maximum.