BRAZIL
CHIKYNGUNYA AND ZIKA, ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FAST-TRACK EXAMINATION
Rule # 217/2018 issued by the Brazilian Patent and Trademak Office modifies Rule #80/123 and expands the possibilities of filing further patent applications related to pharmaceutical and biotechnological matters.
Hence, this new Rule establishes that patent applications related to rare diseases are eligible to participate in this fat-track examination, besides already covering cancer, AIDS and neglected diseases. This most probably means that patents applications related to Chikungunya and Zika are now possibilities for fast-track examination requests in Brazil.
The mentioned changes are expected to open the doors to quick and effective solutions to these type of diseases, especially taking into account that the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office stated that rare diseases affect up to 65 people per 100,000 subjects in the country.