Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunity to TRIPS? Vaccine Production and the Biotechnology Industry in Cuba

  • Chapter
The New Political Economy of Pharmaceuticals

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

‘We don’t like patents, remember?’ Castro said. The stage was the largest laboratory in Cuba—the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology—the time was probably around 1990, and Fidel Castro had just entered a room where some senior scientists were discussing the need for patents to protect their growing market. Just a few years before, in 1986, Cuba had voiced strong opposition to the new global intellectual property rights (IPR) regime in the Uruguay Round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). But about five years after Castro’s ‘reminder’, in 1995, Cuba signed up to the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and was seeking to bring its domestic biotechnology industry into line—or ‘harmonize’—with global IPR standards. Presumably, then, things had changed fundamentally in the intervening years. Or had they? Because, as closer inspection reveals, there are many features of the Cubans’ ‘older’ approach to biotechnology that have not been abandoned. All, therefore, may not be quite as it seems when it comes to the ‘rolling out’ of global norms, standards and laws in local settings, and our aim in this chapter is to explore why. We do so by delving into the relationship between TRIPS, generics, the availability of essential medicines and the Cuban biotechnology sector.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Beardsley, T. (1986) ‘Cuban Biotechnology: Progress Despite Isolation’, Nature, 320(6057), 8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bravo, E. M. (1998) Development within Underdevelopment: New Trends in Cuban Medicine (Havana: Editorial José Martí/Elfos Scientiae).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheek, M. L. (2001) ‘The Limits of Informal Regulatory Cooperation in International Affairs: A Review of the Global Intellectual Property Regime’, George Washington International Law Review, 33, 277–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • CITMA (1997) Polos scientifico-productivos (Havana: Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnologia y Medio Ambiente, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnologia).

    Google Scholar 

  • Coombe, M. (1995) ‘The Cultural Life of Things: Anthropological Approaches to Law and Society in Conditions of Globalization’, American University Journal of International Law & Policy, 10, 791–836.

    Google Scholar 

  • CubaCiencia (2003) ‘Improvement of the Science and Technology System of Cuba’,http://www.idict.cu/accessed 29 April 2013 (IDICT: Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuban Government (1973) Resolution 28, 10 September, 1973 ‘Dictada por el Dr. Carlos Rafael Rodríguez, Vicepresidente del Consejo de Ministros’.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dearing, J. (1995) Growing a Japanese Science City: Communication in Scientific Research (London: Routledge).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • European Patent Office (2012a) ‘Method for Obtaining Recombinant Surface Antigen of Hepatitis B Virus (HEP B) of Higher Immunogenic Capacity and Use Thereof in a Vaccine Preparation’, http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblioDb = Epodoc&at = 19&locale = en_Ep&Ft = D&CC = Ep&Nr = 0864649A2&KC = A2/publicationDetails/biblioDb%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89Epodoc&at%E2%80%89=%E2%80%8919&locale%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89en_Ep&Ft%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89D&CC%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89Ep&Nr%E2%80%89=%E2%80%890864649A2&KC%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89A2, date accessed 7 March 2012.

  • European Patent Office (2012b) ‘Oligosaccharides Derived from Ribose-ribitolphosphate, and Vaccines Containing Them’,http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB = EPODOC&at = 24&locale = en_EP&FT = D&CC = BR&NR = 0013686A&KC = A/publicationDetails/biblio?DB%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89EPODOC&at%E2%80%89=%E2%80%8924&locale%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89en_EP&FT%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89D&CC%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89BR&NR%E2%80%89=%E2%80%890013686A&KC%E2%80%89=%E2%80%89A, date accessed 7 March 2012.

  • Feinsilver, J. M. (1993) Healing the Masses. Cuban Health Politics at Home and Abroad (Berkeley: University of California Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • González, G., A. Lage, T. Crombet, G. Rodríguez, B. García, A. Cuevas, L. Viña, N. Arteaga and E. Neninge (2009) ‘CIMAvax-EGF: A Novel Therapeutic Vaccine for Advanced Lung Cancer’, Biotecnología Aplicada, 26, 345–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández, A. I., Patent Examiner, Oficina Cubana de la Propiedad industrial, Personal communication, 24 May 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, J. (2004) ‘Glycobiology: Synthetic Vaccine is a Sweet Victory for Cuban Science’, Science, 305(5683), 460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan,W. and R. Laing (2005) ‘Local Production of Pharmaceuticals: Industrial Policy and Access to Medicines. An Overview of Key Concepts, Issues and Opportunities for Future Research’, HNP Discussion Paper (Washington, DC: World Bank).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplowitz, D. R. (1998) Anatomy of a Failed Embargo: U.S. Sanctions Against Cuba (London: Lynne Rienner Publishers).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lage, A. (2006a) ‘Socialism and the Knowledge Economy: Cuban Biotechnology’, Monthly Review, 58(7),http://monthlyreview.org/2006/12/01/socialism-and-theknowledge-economy-cuban-biotechnology/2006/12/01/socialism-and-theknowledge-%20economy-cuban-biotechnology, date accessed 7 February 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lage, A. (2006b) ‘On the Cross-Fertilization Between Biotechnology and Immunology: Current Situation in Cuba’, Vaccine, 12(24), Suppl 2:S2–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lage, A., R. Perez and L. E. Fernandez (2005) ‘Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: At Midway between Immunology and Pharmacology’, Current Cancer Drug Targets, 5, 611–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAfee, K. (2003), ‘Neoliberalism on the Molecular Scale: Economic and Genetic Reductionism in Biotechnology Battles,’ Geoforum, 34, 203–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milstien, J. B. and M. Kaddar (2006), ‘Managing the Effect of TRIPS on Availability of Priority Vaccines’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 84, 360–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Office of Inventions and Trademarks (1982) ‘Objetivos y principales funciones de la ONIITEM’, Havana.

    Google Scholar 

  • ONIITEM see National Office of Inventions and Trademarks.

    Google Scholar 

  • ONE (2008) Anuario estadístico de Cuba 2007 (Havana: Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas),http://www.one.cu, accessed November 2008.

  • Pages, R. (2004) ‘Viola primera enmienda constitucional la prohibición de articulos cientificos de Cuba, Irán, Libia y Sudan’, Granma Internacional, 26 February.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez, I. and J. Núñez (2009) ‘Higher Education and Socio-Economic Development in Cuba: High Rewards of a Risky High-tech Strategy’, Science and Public Policy, 36, 97–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plahte, J. (2010a) ‘Development, Organization and Management of Techno-Economic Networks: the Cuban Biotech Sector and Vaccine Industry’, Working Papers on Innovation Studies, no. 2010010, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo,http://ideas.repec.org/p/tik/inowpp/20100109.html, date accessed 10 December 2011.

  • Plahte, J. (2010b) ‘Strategic Evaluations and Techno-Economic Networks. Vaccine Innovation in the Cuban Biotech Sector: for Public Health—or for Profits?’Working Papers on Innovation Studies, no. 20100108, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo,http://ideas.repec.org/p/tik/inowpp/20100108.html, date accessed 5 November 2011.

  • Plahte, J. (2010c) ‘Vaccine Innovation for Public Health, or for Profits—or for Both? The Cuban Biotech Sector in a National and Global Context’, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo, PhD thesis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quach, U., H. Thorsteinsdóttir, J. Renihan, A. Bhatt, Z. C. von Aesch, A. S. Daar and P. A. Singer (2006) ‘Biotechnology Patenting Takes Off in Developing Countries’, International Journal of Biotechnology, 8, 43–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratanawijitrasin, S. and E. Wondemagegnehu (2002) Effective Drug Regulation: A Multicountry Study (Geneva: World Health Organization).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid-Henry, S. M. (2007a) ‘The Contested Spaces of Cuban Development: Post-Socialism, Post-Colonialism and the Geography of Transition’, Geoforum, 38, 445–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid-Henry, S. M. (2007b) ‘Scientific Innovation and Non-Western Regional Economies: Cuban Biotechnology’s “Experimental Milieu” ’, Environment and Planning, 40, 1966–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid-Henry, S. M. (2010) The Cuban Cure: Reason and Resistance in Global Science (Chicago: Chicago University Press).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Riera, L. (2004) ‘Cuban Vaccine Against Lung Cancer: US Clinical Trial to Begin in 2005’, Granma Internacional, 12 December.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sell, S. (2007) ‘TRIPS-Plus Free Trade Agreements and Access to Medicines’, Liverpool Law Review, 28, 41–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sierra, G., M. D. C. Sampedro Herrera, C. Campa Huergo, M. M. Gutiérez, G. Bisset, D. d. I. C. Puentes, F. Sotolongo, E. X. L. Reverend and M. A. Galguera (1997) Método para obtención de una vacuna de amplio expectro protector contra la neisseria meningitidis del grupo B y la vacuna resultante (Havana: Oficina Cubana de la Propiedad Industrial).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorsteinsdóttir, H., T. W. Saenz, U. Quach, A. S. Daar and P. A. Singer (2004) ‘Cuba— Innovation Through Synergy’, Nature Biotechnology, 22, DC19–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorsteinsdóttir, H., T.W. Sáenz, A. S. Daar and P. A. Singer (2005) ‘Different Rhythms of Health Biotechnology Development in Brazil and Cuba’, Journal of Business Chemistry, 2, 99–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorsteinsdóttir, H., A. S. Daar, P. A. Singer, E. Archambault and S. Arunachalam (2006) ‘Health Biotechnology Publishing Takes Off in Developing Countries’, International Journal of Biotechnology, 8, 23–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verez, V., Director of CQB, personal communication, 4 February 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verez, V. (undated) ‘Ciencia y compromiso social’, Havana: Centro de Estudios de Antígenos Sintéticos, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la Habana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zehr, L. (2004) ‘Cuban Drug to Make Debut in US market’, Globe and Mail, 7 September.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Jens Plahte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Simon Reid-Henry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Australia

    Hans Löfgren (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

  2. Centre for Health and International Relations, Aberystwyth University, UK

    Owain David Williams (Research Fellow) (Research Fellow)

Copyright information

© 2013 Jens Plahte and Simon Reid-Henry

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Plahte, J., Reid-Henry, S. (2013). Immunity to TRIPS? Vaccine Production and the Biotechnology Industry in Cuba. In: Löfgren, H., Williams, O.D. (eds) The New Political Economy of Pharmaceuticals. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137315854_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation