Dow Chemical enters into engineered corn Patent

Dow Agro Sciences stepped up by gaining publication of its international patent application at WIPO for Genetically engineered commercial herbicide tolerant Corn. Dow claims that the engineered Corn is resistant to Dow's 2,4- D, herbicides and Glyphosate. The invention includes 2,4-D tolerant corn plants containing the novel transformation event in corn plants and methods of using the corn plants and 2,4-D herbicide to control glyphosate resistant weeds.You can Access the published patent application at WIPO  here.

Currently in the global market Monsanto's roundup herbicides are primarily available, and the genetically modified crops are resistant to these herbicides. This gives an added advantage to the farmers to eradicate weeds by herbicide sprays and posing no harm to the genetically engineered crops. Dow's entry of the "Super weed" resistant bioengineered Corn, can open vast global market for the Dow Agro Sciences. Dow expects to target the markets by 2013 crop year with other crops to follow. This entire episode will certainly aid in advance modern farming. For more info on the Enlist Weed Control System, visit EnlistWeedControl.com. 

(Image by Zeeshan Qureshi)

Medicines patent pool - facilitating Intellectual property access

Well for all those who are concerned about the growing prices of the pharmaceutical products and inaccessibility of relevant medicines around the globe at affordable prices, here is the solution " Medicines Patent pool". The Medicines Patent Pool aims to improve access to affordable and appropriate HIV medicines in middle or low income countries.Because of the increasing global pharmaceutical patenting, the pharma firms set up a monopoly in the global markets. Knowing that the usual term of patent as 20 years, it becomes difficult for people to afford the already set higher prices of the patented medicines, especially for the low income and underdeveloped and nations, an affordable access to appropriate medicines will aid in efficient healthcare facilities. 

Through a patent pool, patent-holders agree to share their intellectual property with each other or with third parties through the negotiation of licences.The methodology of working involves the pool negotiating with the pharma's or the inventors directly to share their patents with the pool and securing a considerable royalty in return of allowing another producer to manufacture and sell the generic version of their medicines in developing/undeveloped countries.The interested manufacturers can obtain a license from the pool for manufacturing the drug in question.The pool will initiate the production of fixed dose drugs (FDC) which will ease the treatment of the patients and will facilitate a treatment scale up in developing countries.You can access selected publications from the pool here. With big pharmaceutical giants showing willingness to join the pool, the future seems vibrant for the global healthcare system.

( Image Courtesy medicine patent pool )