Intellectual Property Committee
Basic Policy
In order for the Japanese pharmaceutical industry to maintain and develop its competitiveness in the international economic community and to fulfill its mission to continue to create innovation in drug discovery, we will actively make policy proposals, exchange information, and disseminate information on intellectual property systems not only in Japan but around the world, in cooperation with other industry associations and the government as necessary. We will promote efforts to reform the system and improve the environment by actively making policy proposals, exchanging information, and disseminating information on intellectual property systems not only in Japan but also in other countries.
In addition, in cooperation with overseas pharmaceutical organizations, relevant government agencies, etc., we will work to raise and resolve issues related to intellectual property problems unique to the pharmaceutical industry.
In order to resolve these issues, TF and WG teams will be established within the IP Committee as necessary to enable prompt and efficient activities.
The most important issues to be addressed are as follows
- Promote international intellectual property protection for the creation of innovative drugs (Priority Issues 1 and 2)
- Consider data protection systems and patent linkage systems as domestic issues (Priority Issue 3)
Key Issues and Initiatives
Priority Issue 1: Promoting efforts to address international issues related to intellectual property
Promote the lobbying of international organizations, foreign governments, and society toward the resolution of international issues related to intellectual property, such as global health (next pandemic response such as the WHO Pandemic Convention, access to medicines, neglected tropical diseases, etc.).
T-row will work with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), overseas pharmaceutical organizations (the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)), and relevant Japanese ministries and agencies to gather information on domestic and international trends, identify issues, consider solutions, and take action to resolve them.
Work with IFPMA and overseas pharmaceutical organizations on issues related to the grant of rights to pharmaceutical patents and restrictions on the exercise of those rights as particularly important issues.
The main specific activities are as follows
- Respond to international discussions on the next pandemic and access to medicines, including pandemic treaties
- Participation in IFPMA/IIPT committees
- Collaboration with overseas JPMA (PhRMA, EFPIA, etc.) and other industry associations
- Collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies
- Support for the activities of the Japanese government and IFPMA at the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), etc.
- Surveys and research to resolve issues
Priority Issue 2: Promoting international harmonization of intellectual property systems
Promote the lobbying of overseas government agencies through bilateral and multilateral consultations such as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and inter-governmental meetings among patent offices, as well as by responding to pubic comments, etc., in cooperation with relevant Japanese ministries and agencies and overseas pharmaceutical organizations, with a view to achieving a high level of international harmonization of intellectual property systems.
The main specific activities are as follows
- Consult with relevant domestic ministries and agencies on issues related to IP systems in various countries and support Japanese government activities in bilateral and multilateral discussions.
- Collaborate with corresponding foreign JPMA organizations and respond to public comments.
- Monitor the actual operation of IP systems and judicial decisions by governments in each country and identify issues that need to be addressed.
Priority Issue 3: Promoting solutions to life science-related issues, such as intellectual property promotion plans
Respond to the Intellectual Property Strategic Headquarters' Intellectual Property Promotion Plan and other government plans related to intellectual property, such as the Health and Medical Care Strategic Headquarters,
- Data protection system
- Patent Linkage System
- Matters to be considered by the Patent System Subcommittee of the SIPO
In addition to cooperating with government activities, we will actively consult and negotiate with other organizations and relevant ministries and agencies to promote the realization of solutions to various issues related to life sciences, such as the following.
Specifically, we will study the above issues and, if possible, make proposals to the government. In particular, we aim to make proposals on the data protection system as soon as possible.
In addition, the JPMA will use the following opportunities to communicate its views
- Dispatch of committee members to government councils, study groups, etc.
- Discussions and exchanges of opinions with relevant ministries and agencies
- Submission of pubic comments
Priority Issue 4: Promotion of JPMA's information dissemination on intellectual property
Collect information on a wide range of intellectual property issues, exchange opinions with experts and related parties, and actively and effectively disseminate JPMA's proposals on intellectual property to the outside world and promote their implementation.
Specific measures include utilizing the Life Science IP Forum and other forums as a forum for information dissemination.
Other Issues and Initiatives
Establish a system to promptly and appropriately respond to issues related to intellectual property in activities related to the promotion of innovation within the association and in cooperation with Europe, the U.S., and Asia, and promote the resolution of such issues.
In addition, since there may be cases where the best solution cannot be found only from the viewpoint of intellectual property, such as global health issues, the committee will further strengthen cooperation with other committees within the association to promote the resolution of issues.