Jeffrey Blumenfeld served as a panelist on IP Watchdog’s "Drug Repurposing and Diagnostics in the Age of COVID-19" webinar. Panelists discussed what it really takes to develop vaccines, drugs, treatments, as well as what universities and pharma companies are doing with the private sector. The panel also discussed how this tragic event has led to a flood of new innovation, and why getting long term public policy right will matter for the next wave, whether that is a resurgence of COVID-19 or for the next pandemic, whatever that may be. Other panelists included:
- Orin Herskowitz - Senior VP of Intellectual Property and Tech Transfer for Columbia University - Executive Director of Columbia Technology Ventures (CTV) - Adjunct Professor, Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs
- Phil Johnson - founder and Principal of Johnson-IP Strategy & Consulting - retired senior vice president and chief IP counsel, Johnson & Johnson
- David Kappos – Cravath, Swaine & Moore – former Director, US Patent and Trademark Office – former Chief IP Lawyer, IBM
- Gaby L. Longsworth, PhD. – director, Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group - counsels biopharmaceutical clients around the world
- Honorable Chief Judge Paul Michel – former Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- James Mayne, PhD. – Vice President, Science Advisory, PhRMA,
- Gene Quinn – Patent Attorney – President, CEO & founder of IPWatchdog.com
- Robert Greene Sterne – founding director, Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox - recognized by Law360 as one of the “Top 25 Icons of IP”.
Among other topics, the panelists discussed:
- How university labs are alive and working with each other and the private sector on a multitude of COVID-19 detection approaches, cures, and treatments.
- The financial investment it takes and regulatory hurdles to getting tests and vaccines to market.
- How the antitrust laws are being applied to address near-overnight collaborations among competitors, and what you need to know.
- How robust IP has put the U.S. in a position to respond faster to spin up clinical trials, but is not hospitable to the long term development of new vaccines.
- Why talk about compulsory licensing is misguided and unnecessary.
