WIRED Staff

TRIPS Treaty Keeps Trial Data Confidential

Data exclusivity included in India’s most controversial free trade agreements keeps drug trial information confidential. Data-exclusivity not only makes it more difficult to verify if trials were conducted ethically, but also delays the availability of life saving generic drugs to the market. While the Prime Minister has not finalized the policy for drug trials, it […]

Data exclusivity included in India's most controversial free trade agreements keeps drug trial information confidential. Data-exclusivity not only makes it more difficult to verify if trials were conducted ethically, but also delays the availability of life saving generic drugs to the market. While the Prime Minister has not finalized the policy for drug trials, it looks like the future of medical trials will continue to happen behind closed doors.

According to Business Line.

International aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) — Doctors Without Borders — said in its letter to the Prime Minister that the Drugs and Cosmetics Act was a legislation related to health and improving access to drugs. "An amendment to implement an intellectual property agreement in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act can have a serious impact on the approval and availability of generic versions of essential drugs," the letter said.

Read the relevant passage of the TRIPS agreement here. More analysis here.

Thanks Srivatsan