Canadian-pharma solution to aid worldwide Covid vaccine access

‘Despite the optimism [over vaccines], there remains a missing space for people in low-income nations who desperately need these vaccines and who may wait too long. As the World Health Organization (WHO) noted in a recent media conference, the global vaccine stocks remain critically short of supply at this time.

‘Biolyse Pharma an Ontario based manufacturer of sterile injectable medicine hopes to be part of a solution. Biolyse has the potential of producing up to twenty million doses per year. In order to do so, the company will need access to the drug master file of an already approved vaccine which is generally patent protected. The Canadian Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) relating to emergency-patent transfer may permit the company to achieve its objective.  

‘CAMR is the Canadian enabling legislation that reflects the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), a protocol between all the member nations of the World Trade Organisation. Under CAMR, there is an emergency provision for the federal government to waive patent rights, allowing other generic-producing companies to start expedited production of critical preventative or curative drugs. Canada therefore has a mechanism in place to allow drug companies to a compulsory license from a patent holder.’

Read here (Newswire, Mar 11, 2021)

‘Major breakthrough’ | Large study shows effectiveness of colchicine to treat Covid-19

‘A large study launched last March by the Montreal Heart Institute allows a “major breakthrough” in the treatment of COVID-19. Its results show that the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine is effective in treating the disease and preventing its complications. It is the first oral medicine proven to be effective in treating patients before they are admitted to hospital. “We have just provided the planet with hope, exclaims the D.r Jean-Claude Tardif, principal investigator of the COLCORONA study and director of the research center of the Montreal Heart Institute (ICM). We finally have a first treatment that can help patients with COVID before their hospitalization to prevent hospitalizations, prevent intubations and prevent death. ”

‘In 4,159 patients proven to be diagnosed with COVID-19 using a PCR test, colchicine resulted in a 25% decrease in hospitalizations, a 50% decrease in the use of ventilation and a decrease in deaths by 44%. “It’s a major breakthrough,” says Dr Tradif. Colchicine works to prevent the “major inflammatory storm” that affects the lungs and can send patients to hospital.’

Read here (The Canadian, Jan 23, 2021)

Vulnerable: The law, policy and ethics of Covid-19

The contents of this 649-page book ‘confronts the vulnerabilities that have been revealed by the pandemic and its consequences. It examines vulnerabilities for people who have been harmed or will be harmed by the virus directly and those harmed by measures taken to slow its relentless march; vulnerabilities exposed in our institutions, governance, and legal structures; and vulnerabilities in other countries and at the global level where persistent injustices affect us all. Covid-19 has forced us to not only reflect on how we govern and how we set policy priorities, but also to ensure that pandemic preparedness, precautions, and recovery include all individuals, not just some.’

Most of its contents are focussed on Canada, however, there are articles about other places. The last 100 pages e.g. is on “Global health and governance”. Even while being Canada-centric, many of the issues are relevant to other countries albeit developed ones.

Download here (uO Research, University of Ottawa, 2020)