BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics, Policy & Law

Trans-Pacific dreams

How TPP deal's IP provisions read like a wish list from PhRMA, biologics aside

December 21, 2015 8:00 AM UTC

If Republicans in Congress move past their disappointment with biologics exclusivity provisions and ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade treaty, the stage will be set for a significant strengthening of global IP protections for pharmaceuticals.

The agreement extends key U.S. pharmaceutical IP practices to countries that account for 40% of world trade and sets precedents that could be applied in future trade treaties around the world. It is likely to be expanded by the addition of Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific countries. Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan are considering joining TPP, and China and India would have to take it into consideration when negotiating treaties with other Pacific countries. ...