Below is the statement sent out on Friday April 25 by AUTM President and Yale administrator Jon Soderstrom apologizing for a “miscommunication” regarding AUTM’s apparent stance in support of signing onto an IPI letter in advance of recommencement of negotiations at the World Health Organization Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Soderstrom initially confirmed support of the stances taken in the letter in statements made in an Inside Higher Ed report (see link below). But in response to actions taken by UAEM, KEI, MSF and members of the academic community urging AUTM to retract its support of signing onto an IPI letter, Soderstrom took the positive step of issuing the clarification quoted below.

UAEM applauds AUTM for taking this constructive step and looks forward to discussions within the association on how it can work to see through full implementation of point nine of the Stanford Nine Points paper noted below.

You can read more about this issue in earlier posts.

You can also read the article posted today on Pharmalot and earlier in the week on Inside Higher Ed.

Message to AUTM members

Dear AUTM member:

I want to apologize for a serious miscommunication on our part. The recent note in the bi-weekly update concerning the Institute for Policy Innovation’s (IPI) open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) should not have been included as written. As written, it could be read as an endorsement by AUTM of the positions espoused by IPI with respect to the WHO negotiations. That would be incorrect. The AUTM Board did not take any action to either endorse IPI’s position or sign onto the open letter.

I believe there is in fact a widespread concern among the AUTM membership about access to medicines in less-developed countries. This concern reflects the fact that the principal goal of universities in technology transfer is the improvement of human welfare. Many universities have pursued innovative approaches to making university-owned inventions available in developing countries, and without a doubt more will do so in the future.

AUTM supports and applauds the creativity and commitment shown by universities. As President of AUTM I can assure you that AUTM is not opposing the exploration of innovative mechanisms nor opposing an open discussion of policies that could lead to important new approaches to research and development for neglected diseases. AUTM in fact, seeks to encourage dialog that includes representation from all stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for all parties. As a professional association we seek to draw attention to issues such as these and encourage broad discussion. AUTM leadership, represented by Janna Tom, Vice President for Public Policy, has been has been an active participant in WHO discussions on this topic.

Many members of AUTM, myself included, are working hard to promote better access to drugs for the world’s poorest populations. We hope that national and international policies will continue to permit institutions to select from a broad array of strategies in determining the approach that will work best in specific circumstances.

The AUTM leadership is guiding the association in the direction of taking concrete steps to adopt policies regarding the funding and licensing of basic science research that serve the global public good and ensure access alongside innovation. The AUTM Board of Trustees and many of AUTM’s members have signed and actively endorsed “The Nine Points to Consider in Licensing University Technology.” If you have not already signed onto these principles, we encourage to review them and consider joining us. In particular, I call your attention to “Point 9″ which states:

“Consider including provisions that address unmet needs, such as those of neglected patient populations or geographic areas, giving particular attention to improved therapeutics, diagnostics and agricultural technologies for the developing world.”

In addition, AUTM’s Better World Project serves to illustrate the role of technology transfer and the benefits of academic research to society.

The mission of AUTM is to advance the field of technology transfer, and enhance our ability to bring the benefits of academic and nonprofit research to people around the world. In keeping with that mission I hope that you and many others from our global community will continue to explore solutions to enhancing global health.

Sincerely,

Jon Soderstrom, Ph.D.
AUTM President

© 2008 AUTM - All Rights Reserved