At GSK, we are committed to playing our part in addressing the global healthcare challenges of this century. We announced new steps on this path on 13 February 2009, and a key element of those commitments is our support for wider access to some intellectual property. 
We would like to support the creation of a least developed country “Patent Pool” for medicines for Neglected Tropical Diseases. To have real impact, this pool needs to be a true collaboration made up of pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, patient groups, non-governmental organisations and universities.
We see this pool as a place where groups could donate relevant small molecule compounds or process patents for neglected tropical diseases, and allow others access to develop and produce new products and formulations for use in those least developed countries. If a new treatment is the results of such research, then we believe the full benefits should go solely to the least developed countries.
But it will take some time to create this model.
GSK donated IP
While this collaborative approach evolves, we have created our own pool of intellectual property containing over 800 granted or pending patent applications. We will donate this to the collaborative pool as it develops, but in the meantime, the intellectual property we have identified can now be sought immediately by researchers.
Want to take part?
We would also like to hear from others interested in contributing their own patents or know-how to the pool to help achieve these goals. You can send ideas to us by email* or if you need further information, you can check out our FAQ section.
