Square Peg in a Round Hole: Manipulating Patent Law to Reduce the Prices of Pharmaceutical Products
Jasmine Daniel Pharmaceutical companies are commonly criticized for charging exorbitantly high prices for their products which can make it difficult for many patients to access life-saving drugs. Competitors, such as generic manufacturers, often cannot manufacture cheaper alternatives to these drugs due to strong patents which protect against product copying. Both the Bayh-Dole Act and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) include provisions which allow competitors to circumvent pharmaceutical patent protection under limited circumstances. Although there are instances in which such circumvention is necessary, ambiguities in these statutes allow countries to bypass pharmaceutical patents and encourage production...
Patentability of COVID-19 Vaccines
Zoë Haggerty In many ways, the COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable and underprivileged members of society. National lockdowns, halted economies, and overburdened hospital systems have significantly exacerbated the obstacles faced by those already financially insecure. In light of these unique and widespread challenges, it is crucial that the marginalized members of society not be neglected as global and domestic health agencies push for efficient vaccine distribution. The implications of patenting COVID-19 vaccines are likely to disadvantage such members unless measures are taken to ensure the accessibility of such vaccines. This Essay explores the options of expanding or...