PhRMA urges USTR to protect US innovation abroad

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has urged the US Trade Representative (USTR) to protect US innovators abroad.

PhRMA, which represents US biopharmaceutical research companies, submitted its comments to the USTR for the “2017 Special 301 Report”.

The USTR report, an annually published review of intellectual property protection and enforcement abroad, identifies challenges facing America’s innovative and creative industries in overseas markets.

In the submission, which was handed in on Thursday, February 9, PhRMA focused on the IP and market access barriers in 18 countries which harm biopharmaceutical innovators in the US.

PhRMA recommended these countries, which include Canada, China, Colombia and India, for inclusion on the priority watch list.

Placement on the list indicates that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IP protection, enforcement or market access for people relying on IP.

PhRMA said in a statement: “Too many countries fail to value and respect American ideas, brands and inventions.”

The organisation added that medicines developed and manufactured in the US face a “growing array” of tariffs, taxes and approval delays in overseas markets .

PhRMA has asked the USTR to address these barriers and “ensure America’s trading partners live up to their IP and market access commitments in global, regional and bilateral agreements”.

It has also called for action to improve medicine pricing and reimbursement transparency, as well as combat the worldwide proliferation of counterfeit medicines.