Research on Biopharmaceutical Innovation in Africa Based on Patent Information

Abstract

Objective To explore the current state of biopharmaceutical innovation in Africa by analyzing patent data related to biopharmaceutical products in African countries. Methods Based on patent data, simple descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the trend of patent applications, the geographical distribution of patents, and the distribution of applicants in the pharmaceutical field in Africa. Besides, Excel software was used to draw charts to visualize statistical information. Results and Conclusion According to the result, a large number of patents has been granted in these countries and the number is steadily rising each year. From the figure below, we can see that the largest number of patents was granted to Morocco in 2014 with a total number of 613 patents followed by Tunisia with 315 patents, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) with 124 patents, South Africa with 106 and Mozambique with 1 patent based on data availability (IncoPat Global Patent Search Database). It was observed that, as patents were granted, the number of applications filed on this continent increased. The largest number of patents has been recorded by Morocco, Tunisia and South Africa. Patent applications in Morocco increased fast with an average annual growth of 7.3%. The increase in patent applications is due to improved research infrastructure and enhanced research activities, which shows the importance of biopharmaceutical innovation in the continent.

Keywords

biopharmaceutical innovation / patent / statistical analysis / challenges and suggestions

References

[1] Bavel JV. The world population explosion: Causes, backgrounds and projections for the future[J]. Facts, views & vision in ObGyn, 2013, 5 (4): 281.

[2] Anyanwu JC, Erhijakpor AE. Health expenditures and health outcomes in Africa[J]. African Development Review, 2009, 21 (2): 400-433.

[3] Tata EB, Ambele MA, Pepper MS. Barriers to implementing clinical pharmacogenetics testing in sub- Saharan Africa. A critical review[J]. Pharmaceutics, 2020, 12 (9): 809.

[4] Amankwah‐Amoah J. Technological revolution, sustainability, and development in Africa: Overview, emerging issues, and challenges[J]. Sustainable Development, 2019, 27 (5): 910-922.

[5] Kremer M. Pharmaceuticals and the developing world[J]. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2002, 16 (4): 67-90.

[6] Chaudhuri S. Can Foreign Firms Promote Local Production of Pharmaceuticals in Africa?[M]. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016: 103-121.

[7] Grabowski H. Patents, innovation and access to new pharmaceuticals[J]. Journal of International Economic Law, 2002, 5 (4): 849-860.

[8] Coovadia H, Jewkes R, Barron P, et al. The health and health system of South Africa: Historical roots of current public health challenges[J]. The Lancet, 2009, 374 (9692): 817-834.

[9] Sprague C, Woolman S. Moral luck: Exploiting South Africa’s policy environment to produce a sustainable national antiretroviral treatment programme[J]. South African Journal on Human Rights, 2006, 22 (3): 337-379.

[10] Laufer MK, Thesing PC, Eddington ND, et al. Return of chloroquine antimalarial efficacy in Malawi[J]. New England Journal of Medicine, 2006, 355 (19): 1959-1966.

[11] Garrett L. The challenge of global health[J]. Foreign Affairs, 2007, 86 (1): 14-38.

[12] Chen L, Evans T, Anand S, et al. Human resources for health: Overcoming the crisis[J]. The Lancet, 2004, 364 (9449): 1984-1990.

[13] Baker JT, Borris RP, Carté B, et al. Natural product drug discovery and development: New perspectives on international collaboration[J]. Journal of Natural Products, 1995, 58 (9): 1325-1357.