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Thiru Balasubramaniam

@thirugeneva.bsky.social
2.2K followers 1K following 5.2K posts
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
nytimes.com
America Wants to Make More Generic Drugs. India Shows Why That’s Hard.
Cheap labor and global supply chains are among the obstacles to President Trump’s plan to bring generic drug manufacturing back home.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The possible run of show for informals on governance, use of terms, and access.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Schedule for the October 2026 informals. Relevant stakeholders can participate in the Monday afternoon (5 October 2026) discussion on Use of Terms and the Wednesday session (7 October 2026) with Laboratory Networks. @who.int #IGWG
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
devex.com
France’s development aid budget set for another cut in 2027
France’s development budget could fall to €3.3 billion in 2027, roughly half its 2024 level, as the government looks to rein in spending ahead of next year’s elections.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The morning session of the Friday, 9 October 2026 informal will focus on Section II.C Benefit sharing. The afternoon session will deal with Preparations for IGWG9.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The morning session of the Thursday, 8 October 2026 informal will focus on Section II.B Access. The afternoon session will focus on Section II.C Benefit sharing. 📍
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The informal on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 will focus on Section I Use of Terms and Section II.B Access.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The first two days of the October 2026 #IGWG informals will focus on Section III Governance and Section I Use of Terms. @who.int
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"This is essential to foster innovation and research, enhance equitable access, and secure a quick and efficient response to future pandemics."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
European Union: "First, the EU wants to reaffirm that technology transfer must be voluntary and on mutually agreed terms, and references to the TRIPS Agreement and Doha Declaration must be comprehensive and fully aligned to its text."
eeas.europa.eu
EU General Statement – UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
25 September 2026, New York – General Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
NYT: "Low-income nations want to be compensated for the information with quick and equitable access to the new tools, but higher-income nations have said they worry such arrangements would hinder progress in fast-moving crises and jeopardize intellectual property rights."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"That agreement would require countries to swiftly share genetic sequences and samples of emerging pathogens, allowing for rapid development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatments. "
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"But that treaty cannot be ratified and become international law until the countries can agree to the most contentious section, called Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"Last year, after several rounds of failed negotiations, member nations of the W.H.O. — which no longer includes the United States — agreed to the text of a pandemic treaty that would allow for a more coordinated and equitable response to global outbreaks."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"Others were more sanguine. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said at a press briefing on Friday that it was “not a problem” for the declaration to be voted on and adopted at a future meeting. “It’s democracy in action,” he said."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
NYT: "The reasons for the disagreements varied. The European Union said the document crossed “red lines” on intellectual property protections, and that “technology transfer must be voluntary and on mutually agreed terms.”
nytimes.com
U.S. Rejects U.N. Declaration on Preparing for Future Pandemics
Most member nations spoke in support of the declaration, but some rich countries had strong objections.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Make that 6. Botswana has nominated Dr Gevorg Tamamyan (Armenia) for WHO DG.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Looking forward to attending USERrights 2026! knowledgegov.org/userrights20... @knowledgegov.bsky.social @profseanflynn.bsky.social @mgeist.bsky.social @wendwendland.bsky.social
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
theguardian.com
Jos Buttler injury and Kusal Mendis century derail England as Sri Lanka level ODI series
The hosts fell short by 16 runs at Headingley after Sri Lanka made 321 for six with their captain Kusal Mendis scoring 121
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
In July 2026, the United Kingdom asked India: "Please can India clarify whether any applications for compulsory licences were considered during the review period, and how transparency and predictability are ensured in the application of these provisions". @wto.org Trade Policy Review of India.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
@who.int #DGelection And then there were five.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Chair: "Thank you. I now move to another change that was made which is to Article 3 in Document 52 /5 in the eligibility criteria. We introduced a comma after Peoples in 3.1 (a) in the original facilitator's alternative." @wipo.int #IGC53 @manonress.bsky.social @wendwendland.bsky.social
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
On Thursday afternoon (in plenary), 24 September 2026 the chair of #IGC53 proposes that Alternative X be replaced with Alternative 3 in Article 2 (objectives) in both the traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions texts. @wipo.int
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
ft.com
Ethiopia on the brink of civil war after rebel offensive
Fighting between Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front and government forces threatens to restart brutal conflict after four years of fragile peace
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
reuters.com
Aid cuts hit disease prevention harder than treatment, Global Fund chief says
Efforts to prevent people from getting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis were hit harder by global aid cuts last year than services to treat ​existing patients, according to the head of a global partners...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
reuters.com
EXCLUSIVE: Standoff with Trump administration sidelines UN refugee agency deputy, sources say
The Trump administration is refusing to work with the newly appointed deputy head of the United Nations refugee agency, exposing tensions between the agency and one of its top donors at a time of ​acu...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Scouring of the Shire. Whither the cherry trees? #OMS
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
youtube.com
Jalen Hurts reacts after Eagles pull off thrilling last-second WIN over Titans
YouTube video by NFL on FOX
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
wipo-int.zoom.us/rec/share/Br... - Here is a link to the recording of the WHO-KEI event.
wipo-int.zoom.us
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom ...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
"It was agreed that future dedicated sessions with Relevant Stakeholders would continue to be designed to facilitate active dialogue and exchange of views between IGWG members and Relevant Stakeholders." The next informals will take place from 5 to 9 October 2026. @who.int
"It was agreed that future dedicated sessions with Relevant Stakeholders would continue to be designed to facilitate active dialogue and exchange of views between IGWG members and Relevant Stakeholders."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
"It is the view of KEI that separate instruments for traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions are more manageable, as the issues raised are significantly different, as are the nature of the rights and/or measures." @keiwashdc.bsky.social #IGC53 www.keionline.org/41439
keionline.org
KEI asks WIPO IGC 53 to consider narrower instruments, during discussions on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions - Knowledge Ecology International
It is the view of KEI that separate instruments for traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions are more manageable, as the issues raised are significantly different, as are the nature ...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
ft.com
AI boom obscuring global trade disruptions, warns WTO chief
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says any slowdown in tech investment will have a disproportionate impact on growth
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
www.who.int/news-room/ev... (Room B, WIPO)
who.int
Intellectual Property and Traditional Medicine: Rethinking Access, Benefit Sharing and Data Governance
Recent developments in the international intellectual property landscape—including the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, ongoing IGC negotia...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Intellectual Property and Traditional Medicine: Rethinking Access, Benefit Sharing, and Data Governance. @who.int @keiwashdc.bsky.social #IGC53 Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
#IGWG8
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
@who.int #IGWG8 discussion with relevant stakeholders on downstream checkpoints.
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"At the same time, the European Union and its Member States note with concern the very limited amount of time allocated to sharing sessions. with only one half day sessions foreseen during this meeting. In our view... this does not fully reflect the mandate of the IGC."
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"For its part, the European Union and its Member States continue to hold the view that any international instrument on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions should be nonbinding and should support a balanced, flexible and measures-based approach." @wipo.int #IGC53
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
(Ambassador Zaheer Laher, South Africa) speaking for the African Group: "In this regard, the Group welcomes the initiative of Nigeria to establish a cross-regional core group of champions dedicated to promoting ratification of and accession to the Treaty." @wipo.int #IGC53
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
@wto.org Curated Conversation From Pathogens to Products: Stress-Testing the WHO PABS System Through a Trade Lens @genevahealthfiles.bsky.social @explaintrade.com #WTOPublicForum
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
ft.com
The ‘supercontinental’ clue to the origins of life on Earth
New geological discoveries suggest Gondwanaland could have played a pivotal role in the Cambrian explosion
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
newsletter.genevahealthfiles.com
EXCLUSIVE: Spain's Push For Radical Reform of Pharma R&D: Bulk Procurement For An Aggregated Market
Newsletter Edition #380 [The Files Brief]  Subscribe Now! Readers, States can have market shaping power if they come together and increase their leverage to say, influence drug pricing and access. ...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
theguardian.com
All supporting acts withdraw from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore
Four openers and live band for Sheeran’s tour depart after removal of Macklemore over ‘free Palestine’ comments
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
healthpolicy-watch.news
Developing Countries Unite Over Need For Binding Contracts With Pharma At Pandemic Talks - Health Policy Watch
Contracts, contracts, contracts. Virtually all the regional blocs that addressed the start of the eighth round of the pandemic agreement talks on Monday
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
"A downstream approach can effectively (1) reduce the free rider risk to near zero and (2) future proof benefit sharing no matter how fast developing information or product development technologies evolve." #IGWG8
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
"Equity is important, and was central to the rationale for the treaty. In other multilateral negotiations, the focus is now on downstream measures to address equity, and this has been missing from this negotiation." #IGWG8
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
KEI: "We do not think a quid pro quo on access to data is appropriate in an emergency, and we do not think it is a dependable mechanism to obtain equity measures." #IGWG8 @who.int @jamielove.bsky.social apps.who.int/gb/igwg/pdf_...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
thelancet.com
Global science to promote cooperation and understanding
The idea that science might promote cooperation could sound naive in a world beset by war, sanctions, strategic rivalry, and institutional breakdown. Science cannot stop armies or resolve diplomatic f...
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Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Statement by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. #IGWG8 @who.int
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