Evaluation of technological development in health from the occurrence of the zika and chikungunya epidemics in Brazil

This study aims to understand how the zika and chikungunya epidemics incited technological development. We surveyed epidemiological data and technological prospecting, using data from Brazilian National Institute of Industry Property (INPI) and Orbit Intelligence, and analyzed products developed/under development worldwide and products registered in Brazil by Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). In 2016, the highest number of total cases was observed for both diseases. Brazil’s technological prospection revealed the existence of a global interest in developing technologies for these diseases and filing their patents in Brazil, with companies as the main depositors. Global technological prospecting showed that 2016 is an important milestone in the evolution of the number of patents for zika and chikungunya, suggesting that Brazilian epidemics stimulated the world in the development of new health inputs. The United States and China are the main jurisdictions, with universities as the largest depositors. Global product analysis revealed that only two products reached the market for zika and one for chikungunya, and vaccines are in the top category. A research in Anvisa revealed more products registered for zika compared to chikungunya. The main legal manufacturers are Brazilian companies, with DiaSorin S.p.A., Eco Diagnóstica Ltda., and Chembio Diagnostics Brazil Ltda. leading the registration requests. Despite the visible stimulus to research, development, and patenting generated by the zika and chikungunya epidemics in Brazil, such stimulus did not guarantee the arrival of new products on the market and population access to these products.本研究旨在探究寨卡（Zika）与基孔肯雅热（Chikungunya）疫情如何推动技术发展。本研究依托巴西国家工业产权局（Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial, INPI）与Orbit Intelligence的公开数据，开展流行病学数据调研与技术态势分析，并对全球范围内已开发及在研产品、以及由巴西卫生监督局（Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, Anvisa）在巴西境内注册的产品进行了系统性分析。2016年，上述两种疾病的总确诊病例数均达到峰值。巴西的技术态势分析结果显示，全球范围内存在针对这两种疾病开发相关技术并在巴西提交专利申请的显著需求，企业为该领域的主要专利申请人。全球技术态势分析则表明，2016年是寨卡与基孔肯雅热相关专利数量演变历程中的重要里程碑，暗示巴西本土疫情刺激了全球对新型卫生健康相关投入品的研发进程。美国与中国为该领域专利申请的主要管辖区域，高校则是最大的专利申请主体。全球产品分析结果显示，针对寨卡的上市产品仅2款，针对基孔肯雅热的上市产品仅1款，其中疫苗类产品位居研发热门类别前列。针对巴西卫生监督局的调研数据显示，寨卡相关注册产品数量多于基孔肯雅热。该领域的主要合法生产商为巴西本土企业，其中DiaSorin S.p.A.、Eco Diagnóstica Ltda.及Chembio Diagnostics Brazil Ltda.在注册申请中处于领先地位。尽管巴西的寨卡与基孔肯雅热疫情对相关研究、开发与专利申请产生了显著的推动作用，但此类推动并未确保新型产品成功上市，也未能保障民众公平获取这些产品。