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Review
. 2016 Jun 29;2(5):292-301.
doi: 10.1200/JGO.2016.005363. eCollection 2016 Oct.

Compulsory Licenses for Cancer Drugs: Does Circumventing Patent Rights Improve Access to Oncology Medications?

Cinthia Leite Frizzera Borges Bognar  1 , Brittany L Bychkovsky  1 , Gilberto de Lima Lopes Jr  1
Affiliations
Review

Compulsory Licenses for Cancer Drugs: Does Circumventing Patent Rights Improve Access to Oncology Medications?

Cinthia Leite Frizzera Borges Bognar et al. J Glob Oncol. .

Abstract

Worldwide, there are enormous inequities in cancer control that cause poor outcomes among patients with cancer who live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One of the biggest challenges that oncology faces today is how to increase patient access to expensive, but life-saving, therapies in LMICs. Access to cancer medications in LMICs is a major problem, especially in recent years, as the costs of these therapies continue to rise exponentially. One mechanism available to LMICs to improve access to cancer medications allows a country to pursue a compulsory license for a given drug. Here, we will review how the legal framework in the World Trade Organization's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement and the Doha Declaration supports countries to circumvent patent laws and acquire compulsory licenses for essential medicines. We will also discuss the current and future role of compulsory licenses in oncology and how compulsory licenses may improve access to cancer drugs in LMICs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and contributions are found at the end of this article.The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or jco.ascopubs.org/site/ifc. Cinthia Leite Frizzera Borges BognarNo relationship to discloseBrittany L. BychkovskyNo relationship to discloseGilberto de Lima Lopes JrHonoraria: AstraZeneca, Genentech, Merck Serono, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Fresenius Kabi, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag Consulting or Advisory Role: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, ImClone Research Funding: Eli Lilly, ImClone, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Eisai Expert Testimony: Sanofi

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