Today’s LinkPad gets a little cosmopolitan and highlights news on international elements, like intellectual property and trade, that play into the biopharmaceutical industry’s ability to provide access to safe, effective medicines for patients.

• A story from Take Part examines how counterfeit medicines flooding the international market hinder efforts to treat disease, delay cures, and further diminish patient health.
• Last weekend, The Economist featured a story on the importance of a successful conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership for the world economy.
• An article written by President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Robert Atkison for the Huffington Post argues the need for strong IP protection in TPP, specifically 12 years of data exclusivity. “Providing anything less in the TPP for biopharmaceutical innovators -- and hence removing incentives to investing in new treatments and therapies -- will only add to the growing imbalance of IP, as well as our prospects of curing deadly diseases and creating U.S. jobs in the biosciences.”
• Info Justice provides a survey of comments to the United States Trade Representative on the Mexico and Canada’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Globalization makes the world a little smaller every day. Addressing global health challenges requires strong domestic and international policies that support innovation and provide safeguards to protect patient health. As the world continues to adapt and recognize the need for coordinated policy efforts, stakeholders must recognize the vital role of intellectual property and provide the strong protections that promote health and innovation.