What's in USTR's IP report

USTR released its annual report on global IP protections—we take a closer look at what’s in it, and BIO’s take. Plus, we tell you why you should know about the lablab bean. (547 words, 2 minutes, 44 seconds)

What's in USTR's IP report

The U.S. Trade Representative’s Special 301 Report chastises China but simultaneously says the U.S. may support extending the waiver of IP protections to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics, reports Bio.News.

The Special 301 Report, published April 26, is an annual rating of IP protection provided by U.S. trading partners, detailing problematic practices like poor law enforcement against illegal trade and counterfeits, inadequate protection of trade secrets, and forced technology transfer. 

Who are the worst offenders? The Priority Watch List includes four countries recommended by BIO—Argentina, Chile, China, and India—as well as Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela.

China has inadequate IP protection and “long-standing issues like technology transfer, trade secrets, counterfeiting, online piracy, copyright law, and patent and related policies,” the report says.

The report reflects BIO’s input on China—including discussion of China’s human genetic resources regulation, biosecurity law, “and other market-distorting measures that require or pressure technology transfer from U.S. companies,” says Justin Pine, BIO’s Senior Director of International Affairs.

But there’s an inconsistency: The report says USTR may support waiving IP protections for COVID therapeutics and diagnostics. The decision will be based on the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) report, scheduled for release on October 17. 

BIO’s take: “USTR twists itself into a pretzel, simultaneously justifying the TRIPS waiver while defending the importance of IP rights for American workers and U.S.-driven innovation,” says Pine. 

Read more about the report and BIO’s take. 

Could this ‘orphan’ bean address food security?

Genomic sequencing of an indigenous African bean facilitates the transition of an underappreciated plant into a climate-resilient hero of global food security, says a recent study.

Meet the “lablab bean”—a so-called “orphan crop” that’s popular with subsistence farmers but is under-studied because of its limited commercial use.

But people should pay attention to it—because it’s highly nutritious for humans and livestock, grows in diverse environments, and improves soil by fixing nitrogen, say researchers at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya.

The magic bean we need? “The plant’s adaptability suggests high genetic diversity, which means it’s possible to select different adaptive genotypes for different environments and climatic challenges,” and it “contains bioactive compounds with pharmacological potential,” says ILRI.

A potential staple crop: ILRI’s genome map of the lablab bean already identifies possibilities to improve the crop’s nutritional value and drought resistance; because it grows well in the tropics, it could contribute greatly to food security.

Why it matters: A few major commercial crops are frequently improved through gene editing and crossbreeding, but under-studied orphan crops could bolster food security and climate resilience. “Africa has rich plant biodiversity that includes 45,000 species, most of which are under-studied and many are not fulfilling their full potential,” the study notes.

President Biden’s Tuesday: No events scheduled. ICYMI, yesterday, the White House announced the end of COVID vaccination requirements for foreign travelers and federal workers.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee will markup four bills, including bills to limit exclusivity of FDA approval and a bill to increase oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to limit the control PBMs’ have over drug prices. We’ll have a full report tomorrow. The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade will hold a hearing to examine commodity programs, credit, and crop insurance, focusing on producer perspectives on the farm safety net.