Drug Development and International Access Conference

Many life-threatening diseases disproportionally affect people in low-income and middle-income countries. Even when treatments exist, many people are unable to afford essential medicines needed for survival. While patent protection for new medicines is necessary to incentivize drug research and development, in developing countries, these patents prevent price-lowering competition.

Professor John Barton, a member of the Stanford Law School faculty for 40 years, devoted the latter part of his distinguished career to increasing access to medicine while continuing to provide incentives for drug development. In 2008, Professor John Barton and Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler proposed a new international framework on drug pricing, favoring IP exemption for the poorest countries, an international drug approval process, divided markets in middle-income countries, and trade agreements among developed countries to ensure policies recognize and reward innovation.

In tribute to Professor Barton’s work and his dedication to increasing access to medicine, this conference aims to discuss some of the innovative new business models and intellectual property strategies, including Professor Barton’s proposal, which will make it possible for more patients to have access to life-saving medicines. Speakers will discuss business strategies to incentivize research and development, models to reduce the cost of drug development, and intellectual property, regulatory, and pricing structures effecting access to medicine.