WHO, partners prepare to launch database for sharing intellectual property

"The World Intellectual Property Organization, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, private sector and foundation partners, is preparing to launch a new voluntary database for the sharing of intellectual property for research and development on medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for neglected diseases, according to sources in Geneva," Intellectual Property Watch reports. "The project will target least-developed countries and is likely to include a database and a space for creating partnerships. But budget, oversight and the role of member states is still unclear," the news service writes (New, 10/19).