Independent journalist and contributor, Down To Earth. Her concerns relate to the way power structures in society - business corporations, governments and lobbies - impact the lives of the powerless.
In the midst of war, Russia hits at patents
As US-EU sanctions deepen, Moscow passes a law to allow free use of patents owned by ‘unfriendly countries’
‘Compromise’ on TRIPS waiver is a sellout
Tough new conditions emerge in the compromise deal to ease WTO intellectual property barriers to production of COVID-19 medical tools
Bizarre patent tussles over a COVID-19 jab
Moderna’s many intellectual property disputes over its vaccine highlight the need for a patent-free regime to fight the pandemic
COVID-19: India trips on its patent waiver proposal
New Delhi has not backed its WTO proposal to suspend intellectual property rights on COVID-19 pharma products with robust action
Viva Cuba for its vaccine revolution
Punching way above its weight, the tiny nation has developed five vaccines, and offers hope of vaccine equity across the world
COVID-19: Has Big Pharma enabled the rise of omicron
Major drug companies do not want to share the know-how for their vaccines; uneven global vaccine access is now resulting in …
Plant protection authority sets right its potato blunder
A public campaign forced it to revoke registration of PepsiCo’s potato variety, but the agency needs to reset its priorities
Moderna’s brazen patent grab on a COVID-19 jab
The US administration is finally putting its foot down on the appropriation of public research by drug firms
The bizarre demand for a Banarasi paan GI
Geographical Indication tag continues to be handed out without examining the scientific basis or the integrity of such claims
The fading mirage of a TRIPS waiver
A year later, the proposal to lift WTO’s intellectual property blocks to making COVID vaccines has not inched forward
When Big Pharma has all the answers
IFPMA, the biopharma trade body, has made its claim clear: COVID-19 vaccine management should be left to these handful of companies; and all …
Katalin Karikó and the innovation issue
Rockstar scientist Kariko’s obsessive research of mRNA has prompted NYT to say she ‘helped shield the world from the coronavirus&…
Grotesque profits in the time of COVID-19
Vaccine equity goes for a toss as US recommends booster shots, while Pfizer and Moderna revenues soar by billions of dollars
Coronavirus vaccines: TRIPS waiver caught in WTO labyrinth
Little change in the position of countries opposing waiver of intellectual property rights; India-South Africa proposal being through hoops …
Coronavirus vaccines: Tech transfer is the new mantra
A tech transfer hub for mRNA vaccines is being set up in South Africa, a first for the continent; but will the pharmaceutical companies play ball?
Big Pharma and intellectual property: Why is India afraid of compulsory licences?
While rich nations are discovering the virtues of compulsory drug licences, India has resolutely turned its back on this tool despite nudges from …
The curious case of Covaxin royalties
ICMR’s contradictions and obfuscation on ownership of the vaccine’s intellectual property is not helping in the fight against COVID-…
TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, meds just got tougher after US support
Biden administration wants text-based negotiations on a waiver limited to vaccines but no one is complaining
Can vaccines become as cheap as generics?
Unlike with drugs, freeing up patents will not make it any easier to manufacture vaccines for COVID-19, says Cipla’s Hamied
COVID-19 vaccine: WTO chief brushes aside TRIPS waiver
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala offers ‘third way’ to bridge the COVID vaccine shortfall based on more licensing agreements
Dark underbelly of Big Pharma lobbying
Recent protests and campaigns in the US have focused on the proposal by India & South Africa at WTO to keep TRIPS in abeyance till the …
Sharing pathogens but not the benefits during pandemics
Western nations and pharma companies have, for long, allegedly appropriated and taken thousands of pathogen specimens and data without permission …
Assault on open access to science in India
Elsevier, Wiley and American Chemical Society have pleaded in front of Delhi High Court that ISPs block Sci-Hub and Libgen websites in India
Wishing for a Jonas Salk in the age of COVID-19
The philosophy of the virologist who developed the vaccine for polio is clearly anathema to today’s drug researchers
COVID-19: The poor must wait years for the jab
Intellectual property rights can act as a barrier against wide access to vaccines, treatments for the novel coronavirus disease