Biological diversity, indigenous knowledge, drug discovery and intellectual property rights: creating reciprocity and maintaining relationships

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 1996-04, Vol.51 (1), p.45-57
• Main Authors: King, Steven R., Carlson, Thomas J., Moran, Katy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Awards and Prizes; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity; Cognitive problems, arts and sciences, folk traditions, folklore; Developing Countries; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Drug discovery; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - economics; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - standards; Drug Industry - economics; Drug Industry - organization & administration; Drug Industry - standards; Ecosystem; Ethnology; Expeditions; Forestry - economics; General pharmacology; Health Priorities; Humans; Indians, South American; Indigenous knowledge; Intellectual Property; International Cooperation; laws and regulations; Medical practices; Medical sciences; Medicine, Traditional; nonfood plant products; Paintings - education; Pharmacognosy; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Program Development; Public Health Administration; Reciprocity; Traditional sciences and medicine
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(95)01349-0

When new plant-derived therapeutics based on indigenous knowledge are being explored, it is important that the pharmaceutical companies return benefits to the native populations and the local governments from which the research material was obtained. When a potentially marketable plant product is being developed, it is essential that equitable agreements have already been established between the pharmaceutical companies and the people and/or countries from which this indigenous knowledge was acquired. Equally important is the commitment to provide immediate reciprocity that will enhance the welfare, the biocultural diversity and the well-being of the forest peoples. These measures should commence when a research project begins and continue during its duration. The development of these measures must be based upon the expressed needs of the indigenous communities. The relationship between the stability of the rain forest biocultural diversity, the creation and development of agro-forest resources and the long term benefits to the forest people is highlighted. Examples of initiatives taken by Shaman Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the Healing Forest Conservancy are described and discussed in the context of exploring appropriate use of intellectual property law to address the ethical issues facing all business and research groups working in the tropics.