BIO welcomes ‘Special 301 Report’

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has welcomed the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) “Special 301 Report”, which it said “aims to advance global IP rights in biotechnology in a number of constructive ways”.

The report is an annual list of countries that the USTR says have poor records when it comes to protecting intellectual property.

In the latest version of the report, released on Wednesday, April 27, both China and India remain on the ‘priority watch list’. Argentina, Russia and Thailand are also among those named on the list.

The report, which assesses US trading partners’ efforts to protect and enforce IP, contains both a ‘priority watch list’ and a ‘watch list’, identifying the countries that are of concern.

China was criticised in the report for the prevalence of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, while India was mentioned for a high number of rejections of patent applications for innovative drugs.

In a statement BIO said it “commends the USTR for engaging US innovators as they seek to improve global IP standards and enforcement.

“The report acknowledges and aims to advance global IP rights in biotechnology in a number of constructive ways,” it said.

It added: “BIO also appreciates USTR’s acknowledgement that market access issues can also undermine IP rights in the life sciences sector, and highlights the many challenges US innovators face with respect to discriminatory or non-transparent health reimbursement systems.”