CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENTIST CONSULTANCY

BACKGROUND

ITPC was birthed in 2003 in Cape Town, South Africa, by a committed group of 125 HIV activists from 65 countries who refused to accept a world in which people living with HIV were denied access to life-saving medicine. As ITPC grew into a Global Activist Network (GAN) advocating for the needs of communities affected by HIV and TB, it also laid the groundwork for community-driven work extending beyond singular diseases and addressing the systemic issues affecting people’s health and quality of life— exposing and resisting entrenched global power dynamics that consistently prioritize privilege and profit over the right to health and dignity. Today, we celebrate 20 years, highlighting progress in the fight for equitable access and affordability to treatment, amplifying community power, and building resilience within communities.

The Solidarity Project aims to improve public health outcomes (incidence, prevalence, and reductions in morbidity and mortality) by improving affordability of key patented health products for HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, cervical cancer, and any public health emergencies in 24 LMICs. The Solidarity Project, which complements other access strategies such as voluntary licenses, aims to address IP barriers in 24 LMICs, by working within the framework of national laws and international agreements such as the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to facilitate price reductions through market entry of key generic and biosimilar products (GBPs).

In order to file new patent oppositions in the scope of Solidarity Project, consortium hubs require technical assistance in preparation and cross-checking of scientific arguments for patent oppositions. Capacity of local chemists plays a crucial role in the ability of local CSOs to prepare and file patent oppositions.

Service Provider Scope of Work

ITPC wishes to engage a Pharmaceutical Scientist consultant, who will develop patent opposition templates.

Consultant upon request from ITPC shall:

1. Conduct initial prior art search and preparation of scientific arguments for 24 MMA consortium countries (Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Moldova, Morroco, Senegal, Tunisia, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam) patent oppositions or invalidation lawsuits by preparation of patent oppositions templates or arguments tailored for particular country for HIV, HCV, TB, Mpox, COVID-19 and cervical cancer health products requested by ITPC;
2. Cross-check and provide inputs to draft templates prepared by other pharmaceutical scientists;
3. Participate in virtual technical calls of scientific team and webinars to present patent opposition templates;
4. Provide ad hoc scientific support requested by ITPC.

Minimum Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 3 year of relevant experience in developing scientific arguments for patent oppositions
• Graduate degree in chemistry or pharmacology
• Postgraduate degree in relevant field is an advantage
• Fluency in English required, fluency in a second language a plus
• Experience collaborating with community-based organizations on patent opposition work