Led by Dr. Ding Lieming, President of PhIRDA, Chairman & CEO of Betta Pharmaceuticals, and Prof. Song Ruilin, Executive President of PhIRDA, PhIRDA delegation visited the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva on June 28th. Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Director-General of WTO, Mr. Antony Taubamn, Director of IP, Government, Procurement and Competition Division and Mr. Roger Kampf, Counsellor of IP, Government attended the meeting.

Mr. Yi Xiaozhun introduced about WTO and the progresses has been made in promoting global steady, predictable, free trade.

Meeting with WTO

Dr. Ding Lieming expressed the purpose of this visit. Prof. Song Ruilin introduced the current circumstance of drug intellectual property protection in China, as well as achievements have been made in pharmaceutical innovation and development since China joined WTO in 2002, especially the recent regulatory reforms to encourage pharmaceutical innovation and establish of patent linkage and Patent Term Restoration System will have a significant impact on the whole industry.

The two sides had deep discussion on drug intellectual property protection system and Patent Term Restoration System on promoting drug innovation and imitation, Mr. Yi Xiaozhun said, those reforms in China will definitely influence both the domestic and global pharmaceutical market, and he look forward to cooperating with PhIRDA on the research of drug intellectual property protection system. 

Group Photo with WTO

PhIRDA delegation also visited the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and met with Mr. Minelik Alemu Getahun, the Associate Director-General of WIPO, Mr. Anatole Krattiger, Director of Global Challenges Division and Mr. Marco M. Aleman, Director of Patent Law Division, Mr, Ridha Bouabid, Representative of the Director General of United Nations SDGs. The two sides had productive discussion about comprehensive cooperation on promoting drug intellectual property protection.

Meeting with WIPO

Mr. Minelik Alemu Getahun expressed the challenges of public health has raised higher requirements for the intellectual property system to promote the integration of pharmaceutical innovation and convergence. WIPO is engaged in the establishment of the unified IP access system.

Prof. Song Ruilin stressed that China is currently in the process of amending the Drug Administration Law and Patent Law, to encourage the new drug innovation and accessibility, to provide reasonable price and quality assured generic drugs, which is the core of drug IP system.

Group Photo with WIPO

Ms. Ouyang Jingbo , CEO & Vice-Chairperson of Guangxi Wuzhou zhongheng Group, Ms. Lou Shengqiong , General Manager of Hangzhou Repugene Technology, Ms. Jiang Hua, Vice President of Luye Pharma Group, Mr. Ke Xiao, Vice President of Kanghong Pharmaceutical Group, Mr. He Yun, CEO of Liangjiang Medicine, Ms. Gu Hongmei, Assistant to President & Head of R&D Institute of Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, Ms. Chengyinqi, Deputy Secretary-General of PhIRDA, Ms. Lu Xiaoti, Deputy Director of International Department of PhIRDA participated in the meetings.