EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: SENIOR 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 Global invites interested individuals to submit expressions of interest to the open call:

Senior Pharmaceutical Scientist.

The consultant upon request from ITPC shall:

Conduct preparation of scientific arguments for MMA consortium countries (https://makemedicinesaffordable.org/where-we-work/) patent oppositions or invalidation lawsuits by preparation of patent oppositions templates or arguments tailored for particular country for HIV, HCV, TB, COVID-19, Mpox and cervical cancer health products requested by ITPC;

1. Conduct preparation of scientific arguments for MMA consortium countries (https://makemedicinesaffordable.org/where-we-work/) patent oppositions or invalidation lawsuits by preparation of patent oppositions templates or arguments tailored for particular country for HIV, HCV, TB, COVID-19, Mpox and cervical cancer health products requested by ITPC;
2. Cross-check and provide inputs to draft templates prepared by other scientists;
3. Participate in virtual technical calls of the scientific team and webinars to presentation patent opposition templates.
4. Provide ad hoc scientific support requested by ITPC.

Qualification/Eligibility Requirements to Provider:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in developing scientific arguments for patent oppositions
• Graduate degree in chemistry or pharmacology
• PhD degree in relevant field is a plus
• Experience and/or academic training in public health, health policy, or a related field is a plus;
• Fluency in English required and working knowledge of a second consortium language a plus
• Experience collaborating with community-based organizations on patent opposition work