Penn

1
Penns Innovations and the Global
Poor Facilitating Access to Medicines in
Developing Countries Universities Allied for
Essential Medicines, University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine
? Abstract ? Universities Allied for Essential
Medicines (UAEM) is a national student advocacy
group at about 25 research universities across
North America. Chapters are united by a common
goal of improving access to medicines in poor
countries through university action. This goal
has been operationalized through a two-fold
mission 1) to determine how universities can
help ensure that biomedical end products, such as
drugs, are made more accessible in poor
countries and 2) to promote research on
neglected diseases. The University of
Pennsylvania is in a unique position to serve as
a trailblazer in addressing one of the most
challenging humanitarian crises of our time.
Penns extensive research activities, with an
annual research budget of over 750 million,
suggest a great potential for making globally
relevant discovery. Secondly, the university has
an avowed commitment to advancing global health.
The Penn chapters advocacy efforts have
implemented a triphasic approach of
self-education, collaboration, and open
discussion in attempts to implement meaningful
change. If adopted, Penn will be at the forefront
of a national movement to develop more
socially-conscious university licensing policy.

• ? The Case for University Action ?
• Universities play a substantial and increasingly
  critical role in drug development
• Conduct more than half of U.S. basic science
  research
• Rapid increase in patenting and commercialization
• Major players in the biopharmaceutical arena,
  holding key patents on drugs critical to the
  treatment of AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, anemia, and
  infection

? Transforming Passion into Action ? Engaging the
Students Penn medical students attended the
national UAEM teach-in in Washington D.C.
Resolutions in support of UAEM proposals were
passed by the Medical Student Government,
Graduate and Professional Students Association,
and Undergraduate Assembly.
Engaging the Students Penn medical students
attended the national UAEM teach-in in Washington
D.C. Resolutions in support of UAEM proposals
were passed by the Medical Student Government,
Graduate and Professional Students Association,
and Undergraduate Assembly. Continued outreach
and a teach-in sponsored by the Penn AMSA chapter
led to engagement of the undergraduate, law
school, nursing, and Wharton students. Engaging
the Faculty and Administration Penn UAEM members
have met with over thirty faculty members in
efforts to seek support and guidance. Thus far,
fifteen have pledged their support via signed
letters. A recent roundtable discussion that
included Penns Vice Provost for Research, top
legal experts, and basic scientists led to a
consensus to move forward in capitalizing on
Penns opportunity to enhance access to
medicines. Engaging the University An upcoming
university-wide forum will feature an interactive
panel discussion of humanitarian licensing. A
White paper describing Penn UAEM policy proposals
and assessing potential impact will be posted on
our website. The Daily Pennsylvanian is excited
to provide media coverage as UAEM moves forward.

While the ultimate solution is likely to require
collective action, Penn is well-situated to be a
leader in ensuring that its pioneering
discoveries reach those who need it most.
Ongoing member recruitment and a teach-in
sponsored by the Penn AMSA chapter has led to
active engagement of the undergraduate, law
school, nursing, and Wharton students.
Examples of disclosures currently available from the Penn Center for Technology Transfer Examples of disclosures currently available from the Penn Center for Technology Transfer
Disclosure Title
E963 Treatment and Prevention of P. falciparum Malaria
F1088 Irreversible HIV1 Protease Inhibitor
P3070 Novel HIVs useful in Vaccine Development and HIV Drug Design
G1118 Monoclonal Antibody Vaccines
Engaging the Faculty and Administration Penn UAEM
members have met with over thirty faculty members
in efforts to seek support and guidance. Thus
far, fifteen have pledged their support via
signed letters.
Penn researcher Dr. Mark Greenes research
underlies a first-line monoclonal antibody
treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast
cancer marketed by Genentech.
Dr. Art Caplan Director, Center for
Bioethics Dr. Garret FitzGerald Chair,
Department of Pharmacology and Director,
Institute for Translational Medicine and
Therapeutics Dr. James Hoxie Director, Penn
Center for AIDS Research Dr. Robert Doms Chair,
Department of Microbiology Dr. Mark Greene John
Eckman Professor of Medical Sciences Dr. Gary
Koretzky Leonard Jarett Professor of Pathology
and Laboratory Medicine Dr. David Roos Merriam
Professor of Biology and Director, Genomics
Institute Dr. Fred Frankel Professor of
Microbiology Dr. Martin Carroll Assistant
Professor of Medicine Dr. Yvonne Paterson
Professor of Microbiology Faculty advisors also
include Dr. Brian Strom (Director of the Center
for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics) and
Dr. Afaf Meleis (Dean of the School of Nursing).
Furthermore, UAEMs proposals are well aligned
with Penns stated goal of becoming a more
globally engaged university.
? Significance Impact ?
? Specific Proposals ? 1. Penn should adopt
licensing provisions that facilitate access to
its health-related innovations in poor countries.
Approximately ten million people die each year
because they lack access to existing medicines
and vaccines. The access gap stems from 1)
inadequate health care delivery systems 2)
insufficient public financing for health care
and 3) high prices for medicines.

• UAEM advocates implementing Equitable Access
  Licensing, which facilitates generic competition
  in poor countries. Open licensing would be used
  to allow third party manufacturers to compete in
  low- and middle-income countries.

A recent roundtable discussion that included
Penns Vice Provost for Research, top legal
experts, and basic scientists led to a consensus
to move forward in capitalizing on Penns
opportunity to enhance access to
medicines. Engaging the University An upcoming
university-wide forum will feature an interactive
panel discussion of humanitarian licensing. The
Daily Pennsylvanian is excited to provide media
coverage. A White paper describing Penn UAEM
policy proposals in detail and assessing
potential impact is forthcoming and will be
posted on our website.
2. Penn should promote research on neglected
diseases that principally impact the global poor
and find ways to work with nontraditional
partners that seek to develop medicines for those
diseases.
Millions more die from so-called neglected
diseases, those diseases predominantly afflicting
populations to poor to attract private sector RD
investment. In 2005, ninety percent of research
funding targeted only 10 percent of the global
disease burden.

• Facilitate partnerships with public-private
  partnerships
• Remove barriers from accepting foundation funding
• Monitor university innovations for potential ND
  application
• Lower IP hurdles for the ND research arena

African Trypansomiasis, commonly referred to as
sleeping sickness, kills up to 500,000 people
annually in Africa (WHO 2005).
Correspondence to Amit Khera, khera_at_mail.med.upen
n.edu