Contemporary Issues in Pharmaceutical Patent Law : Setting the Framework and Exploring Policy Options

This collection explores the complexities associated with the intersection of pharmaceutical law and policy and public health. Focusing on patent and relevant regulatory laws, the collection provides a comprehensive overview of the most important and pressing issues governments are currently facing in regards to ensuring access to medicines at an affordable cost. Each chapter focuses on a separate issue and offers clear, balanced and detailed analysis of the international framework, trends and available policy options.

This collection reflects on contemporary and contentious issues in international rulemaking in regards to pharmaceutical patent law. With chapters from both well-established and rising scholars, the collection contributes to the understanding of the regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical patents as an integrated discipline through the assessment of relevant laws, trends and policy options. Focusing on patent law and related pharmaceutical regulations, the collection addresses the pressing issues governments face in an attempt to resolve policy dilemmas involving competing interests, needs and objectives. The common theme running throughout the collection is the need for policy and law makers to think and act in a systemic manner and to be more reflective and responsive in finding new solutions within and outside the patent system to the long-standing problems as well as emerging challenges