On 26 April, World Intellectual Property Day, 2021, over 25 members of the innovative biopharmaceutical industry and industry associations, under the umbrella of INTERPAT*1 have launched the “IP PACT*2: IP Principles for Advancing Cures and Therapies”. Proudly, Astellas is one of the companies that has signed on to the IP PACT. On the same day, to support and announce the launch of this groundbreaking initiative, there has been a virtual event with the featuring industry and patient representatives as well as government officials. The video message from Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., President and CEO has also been introduced with other participating companies at the time of the event. Please visit INTERPAT’s website at http://www.interpat.org/ip-pact-2/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSoYnifQMbo for this and other information on IP PACT.
*1: INTERPAT is a non-profit association of research-based biopharmaceutical companies that promotes effective intellectual property (IP) protection throughout the world. Its representatives are the leading and senior executives of its member companies who are responsible for IP and IP-related matters.
*2: IP PACT:
• The IP PACT is a ground breaking declaration of 10 key principles by members of the innovative biopharmaceutical industry aiming to affirm our strong commitment to innovation and to keeping the needs of patients at the heart of our IP practices.
• The IP PACT aims to explain how we use the IP system and underscores the values it carries and promotes.
• These principles set a framework for greater trust and collaboration and help to advance cures and therapies.