Salicrup Luis A, Fedorková Lenka
Office of the Director/Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
Biotechnol Adv. 2006 Jan-Feb;24(1):69-79. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2005.06.004. Epub 2005 Aug 10.
Biotechnological innovation is gaining increased recognition as an important tool for improving global health. The challenge, however, lies in defining the role of technology transfer to develop therapies for diseases prevalent in developing countries. During the past decade, a large disparity emerged between the developed and developing world in accessing affordable medicines because of the pharmaceutical industry's focus on health areas bearing greatest profits. Discussed herein are several mechanisms that provide partial solutions to this challenge. The Office of Technology Transfer of the US National Institutes of Health has increased its technology licensing pertaining to neglected diseases to partners in developing regions. Establishing partnerships through the transfer of technologies and assisting indigenous institutions build R and D capacity may positively impact policies on protection of intellectual property rights and increase multinational company investments in lesser-developed countries. This will most probably result in the development of more accessible therapies for those in need.
生物技术创新作为改善全球健康的重要工具正日益受到认可。然而，挑战在于界定技术转让在开发针对发展中国家流行疾病的疗法方面的作用。在过去十年中，由于制药行业专注于利润最高的健康领域，发达国家和发展中国家在获取平价药品方面出现了巨大差距。本文讨论了几种可为这一挑战提供部分解决方案的机制。美国国立卫生研究院技术转让办公室已增加了与发展中地区合作伙伴就被忽视疾病的技术许可。通过技术转让建立伙伴关系并协助本土机构建设研发能力，可能会对知识产权保护政策产生积极影响，并增加跨国公司在欠发达国家的投资。这很可能会为有需要的人开发出更多可及的疗法。
