Australia’s opportunity to lead the TPP forward

Dr. Kristina Lybecker, one of the leading experts on intellectual property for biopharmaceuticals, writes that Australia’s negotiating position “threatens both the future of the TPP and the patients who are awaiting tomorrow’s biologic medicines.” That’s because patents and regulatory data protection go hand in hand, and data protection must be a part of a country’s IP infrastructure to provide the necessary incentives for innovators to take the enormous risks necessary in developing biologics.

Dr. Lybecker goes on to refute Australia’s claims that their IP system is stronger for biologics, even though their regulatory data protection period, at 5 years, is less than half the United States’. She illustrates this point by saying, “Given the lengthy drug-development and patent-approval processes, effective patent terms rarely correspond to marketing approval.  In some cases innovative therapies may experience patent expiry shortly after making it to market, providing the innovator firm with little chance of recovering the investment that was required to develop the therapy.  Moreover, in the case of biologics, the fact that the subsequent product is only similar to the innovative product makes it potentially easier for a competing firm to design around the patent, while still relying on the innovator’s data to prove the safety and effectiveness of the product.”

Dr. Wayne Taylor, of the Canada-based Cameron Institute, recently wrote: “Innovative medicines today are conquering cancers and rare diseases that were thought to be unconquerable 10 years ago. But innovative drug-makers are not going to invest in Australia if their discoveries, their IP, are better protected elsewhere; they may not even apply to sell their products there. And then Australians lose; lose lives, lose health, lose high-paying jobs, and lose tax revenues to fund social programmes and infrastructure.”

In addition, a new report by the Geneva Network goes even further, arguing that fears of strong IP provisions in trade agreements hindering access or raising prices are unfounded, and that robust IP for biopharmaceuticals in FTAs has led to positive health outcomes.

Australia stands to benefit from the TPP, yet true innovation that will maximize Australia’s full potential, especially in the life sciences sector, will simply not be possible without adequate IP protections. Strengthening IP for biologics is good for patients, and good for Australia’s economy.

Congratulations to Prime Minister Turnbull on his election. We hope Australia will become an ally in helping the United States conclude a successful TPP that will help patients, workers, and economies in all participating nations.