What Are Compulsory Licenses and How Do They Relate to Cancer?
To address the tension between IP protection and public health, TRIPS includes provisions for compulsory licensing. This allows a government to permit the production of a patented product without the consent of the patent owner, primarily to ensure access to essential medicines during health crises. In the context of cancer, compulsory licenses can facilitate the production of affordable cancer drugs, thereby improving access to life-saving treatments for patients in need.
