Drew University Library : University Archives : Theses and Dissertations
    
author Brianna Perrone
title International Intellectual Property Rights and the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Comparison of Former French Colonies
abstract The first chapter of this thesis introduces the historical background and the regulating bodies within the international patent system. This chapter finds that the individual rights to intellectual property are an essential part of many declarations of human rights in the Global North. This section also finds that the United Nations advocates for the interests of the Global North and strong intellectual property rights.

The second chapter of this thesis critically reviews the literature on the intellectual property system and its relation to pharmaceutical patents. States in the Global North are typically the ones in favor of more substantial intellectual property agreements. Issues arise when pharmaceutical patents prevent other manufacturers from entering the market and producing a cheaper product. States in the Global South favor lenient intellectual property protections because they do not benefit from the protection.

The third chapter of this thesis discusses the relationship between patent protection strength and access to vital medicines through the lens of the AIDS crisis in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. This chapter finds that aggressive international intellectual property treaties have caused the exclusion of the global south from developing vital national pharmaceutical industries to deal with national health crises.

The fourth and final chapter summarizes this research's findings, recalls this thesis' contributions, and relates the argument to further research about the COVID-19 vaccine. While writing and editing this thesis, more and more information is coming out every day about the limitations pharmaceutical patents have on granting states in the Global South access to life-saving vaccines. The world has not learned from the HIV/AIDS crisis the effect international pharmaceutical patents have on global health. Overall, the production of essential medicine should be immune from international patent agreements.

school The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
degree B.A. (2021)
advisor Carlos Yordan
Muriel Placet-Kouassi
committee Alex DeVoogt
full textBPerrone.pdf