Quali-quantitative synthesis of the global scenario of patent families about leprosy.

Rogério Almeida Meneghin

doi:10.1590/1413-812320212611.01452021

Abstract

The work presents the analysis and synthesis of patent families about leprosy worldwide in the last 20 years. Three technological aspects were defined for the study of both portfolios, thus defined: diagnostic, drug/treatment and vaccine. Three thousand and three hundred twenty-three (3323) patent families were identified (790 for diagnostic, 1515 for drug and 1018 for vaccine). Fifty-eight (58) patent holders were identified and analyzed, with the most expressive portfolio of patent families, distributed in 13 countries. For the recovery of patent families, the ORBIT Intelligence® system from QUESTEL® was used. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis and synthesis, the patterns of five strategic indicators on the global patent scenario about leprosy were observed, namely: holders of patent families; the years of filing for unionist priority for patent families; countries of unionist priority for patent families; the legal status of filed patent families; and the legal status of patent families by country of protection. It is suggested that new public policies be created to encourage synergy between patent families and the social determinants of neglected populations, in order to induce a safe path to technological independence and better performance in the fight against leprosy in the Brazil.

Highlights

National leprosy programmes have adopted the Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020: Accelerating towards a leprosy-free world and made plans that include components of the strategy adapted to their local situation
It is a comparative analysis between the portfolios of the three technological aspects, diagnostic, drug/treatment and vaccine, of 58 holders or institutions, and their respective countries of origin, on the world stage, prospected over 20 years
The obtained data shows a world scenario on leprosy patent families that indicates the necessity of urgent undertaking efforts towards new public policies that can better answer such demands

Summary

Introduction

National leprosy programmes have adopted the Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020: Accelerating towards a leprosy-free world and made plans that include components of the strategy adapted to their local situation. Detection of leprosy early and treating patients with multidrug therapy (MDT) remain the basis of control. People affected by leprosy have participated in programmes in many countries[1]. The idea that leprosy transmission could be sustained by a mammalian reservoir in nature such as armadillos and monkeys could explain why some countries, such as Brazil, continue to register constant rate of new cases of leprosy along decades, in spite of the reduction of poverty and improved income distribution[2]. Over the past 20 years, the global number of new cases of leprosy has remained stable, irrespective of available effective treatment, suggesting that better prophylactic and diagnostic tools are necessary to improve disease control and achieve reduced incidence rates; in this scenario, maintaining high therapeutic efficacy is of critical importance[3]

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