MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Waiving intellectual property rights: Boom or bust for medical innovation?


    Rake, Bastian (2022) Waiving intellectual property rights: Boom or bust for medical innovation? Drug Discovery Today, 27 (2). pp. 384-389. ISSN 1359-6446

    [thumbnail of BR_waiving.pdf]
    Preview
    Text
    BR_waiving.pdf

    Download (198kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Proposals to waive intellectual property rights (IPRs) on coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)-related developments have gained considerable support among politicians, including from US President Biden, academics, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the media, and the general public. However, there are surprisingly few reflections about the short- and long-term consequences for medical innovation, particularly the development of new drugs and vaccines. In this feature, I reflect on the consequences for innovative entrepreneurial companies, the incentives to innovate, and consequences for international knowledge flows to low- and middle-income countries. I conclude that waiving IPRs reduces opportunities for entrepreneurial companies to attract sufficient funding for developing medical innovations. Low- and middle-income countries might suffer reduced knowledge inflows in the absence of IPRs that undermine their ability to develop medical innovations.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: COVID-19 vaccines; Incentivizing innovation; Intellectual property rights; Knowledge transfer; Low- and middle-income country; Patent waiver;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business
    Item ID: 18249
    Identification Number: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.10.015
    Depositing User: Bastian Rake
    Date Deposited: 06 Mar 2024 15:42
    Journal or Publication Title: Drug Discovery Today
    Publisher: Elsevier
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/18249
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads