Melissa Barber
@mbarber.bsky.social
Health economics, law, global health, and access to medicines.
https://melissajbarber.github.io. Views my own.
https://melissajbarber.github.io. Views my own.
I never saw starlings the entire time I lived in Geneva, but tonight the gift of an especially beautiful murmuration.
October 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I never saw starlings the entire time I lived in Geneva, but tonight the gift of an especially beautiful murmuration.
Tariffs on pharmaceuticals are set to go into effect in 4 days. MSF submitted a response to the Department of Commerce's request for comment on the Section 232 investigation that is the underlying justification for the tariffs.
Full comment here: bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
Full comment here: bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
September 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Tariffs on pharmaceuticals are set to go into effect in 4 days. MSF submitted a response to the Department of Commerce's request for comment on the Section 232 investigation that is the underlying justification for the tariffs.
Full comment here: bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
Full comment here: bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
Very niche tweet but if you've been banging your head on the wall trying to understand the current status of the FDA/PEPFAR tentative approval program, a sliver of good news - 6 drugs have gone through this pathway in 2025, so I guess at least one person wasn't fired in that office?
September 10, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Very niche tweet but if you've been banging your head on the wall trying to understand the current status of the FDA/PEPFAR tentative approval program, a sliver of good news - 6 drugs have gone through this pathway in 2025, so I guess at least one person wasn't fired in that office?
Also want to flag the fantastic work of a group of leading IP academics who also submitted analysis.
@hyoyoonkang.bsky.social @grahamdutfield.bsky.social Vitor Ido, @akapczynski.bsky.social, Luke McDonagh, @cmorten.bsky.social
Their submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 3/4
@hyoyoonkang.bsky.social @grahamdutfield.bsky.social Vitor Ido, @akapczynski.bsky.social, Luke McDonagh, @cmorten.bsky.social
Their submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 3/4
September 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Also want to flag the fantastic work of a group of leading IP academics who also submitted analysis.
@hyoyoonkang.bsky.social @grahamdutfield.bsky.social Vitor Ido, @akapczynski.bsky.social, Luke McDonagh, @cmorten.bsky.social
Their submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 3/4
@hyoyoonkang.bsky.social @grahamdutfield.bsky.social Vitor Ido, @akapczynski.bsky.social, Luke McDonagh, @cmorten.bsky.social
Their submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 3/4
This week, USTR held a hearing concerning the Special 301 Investigation being pursued against Brazil.
MSF is deeply concerned that the US is pressuring Brazil to adopt IP measures that will make medicines even more inaccessible.
Full submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 1/4
MSF is deeply concerned that the US is pressuring Brazil to adopt IP measures that will make medicines even more inaccessible.
Full submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 1/4
September 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
This week, USTR held a hearing concerning the Special 301 Investigation being pursued against Brazil.
MSF is deeply concerned that the US is pressuring Brazil to adopt IP measures that will make medicines even more inaccessible.
Full submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 1/4
MSF is deeply concerned that the US is pressuring Brazil to adopt IP measures that will make medicines even more inaccessible.
Full submission here: comments.ustr.gov/sfc/servlet.... 1/4
Testimony from Ahmed, June 2025: 7/7
August 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Testimony from Ahmed, June 2025: 7/7
@doctorswithoutborders.org released a report this morning documenting the targeted, orchestrated killing of civilians at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution sites.
Please read and do everything in your power to stop this.
www.msf.org/not-aid-orch... 1/7
Please read and do everything in your power to stop this.
www.msf.org/not-aid-orch... 1/7
August 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
@doctorswithoutborders.org released a report this morning documenting the targeted, orchestrated killing of civilians at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution sites.
Please read and do everything in your power to stop this.
www.msf.org/not-aid-orch... 1/7
Please read and do everything in your power to stop this.
www.msf.org/not-aid-orch... 1/7
The censored billboard says “We’re witnessing a genocide in Gaza. When will the UK government take action?”
July 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The censored billboard says “We’re witnessing a genocide in Gaza. When will the UK government take action?”
Kids without cancer also have a right to seek safe asylum, but it's particularly heinous to see sick 6 year olds threatened w/guns and denied life-saving medical care.
Most cases of early childhood leukemia are treatable but only w/early intervention + consistent care.
www.tpr.org/border-immig...
Most cases of early childhood leukemia are treatable but only w/early intervention + consistent care.
www.tpr.org/border-immig...
June 27, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Kids without cancer also have a right to seek safe asylum, but it's particularly heinous to see sick 6 year olds threatened w/guns and denied life-saving medical care.
Most cases of early childhood leukemia are treatable but only w/early intervention + consistent care.
www.tpr.org/border-immig...
Most cases of early childhood leukemia are treatable but only w/early intervention + consistent care.
www.tpr.org/border-immig...
Grim how we are discussing relative catastrophic cuts to health - and the cuts are catastrophic - but in absolute terms, health spending was already unacceptably low.
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
May 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Grim how we are discussing relative catastrophic cuts to health - and the cuts are catastrophic - but in absolute terms, health spending was already unacceptably low.
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
That's not to say that pharma won't try to - as ever - keep prices secret.
Monthly re-upping of one of my top 5 favourite papers ever by @cmorten.bsky.social on why trade secret protections are often more vibes than actual law : papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4041556 7/8
Monthly re-upping of one of my top 5 favourite papers ever by @cmorten.bsky.social on why trade secret protections are often more vibes than actual law : papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4041556 7/8
May 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
That's not to say that pharma won't try to - as ever - keep prices secret.
Monthly re-upping of one of my top 5 favourite papers ever by @cmorten.bsky.social on why trade secret protections are often more vibes than actual law : papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4041556 7/8
Monthly re-upping of one of my top 5 favourite papers ever by @cmorten.bsky.social on why trade secret protections are often more vibes than actual law : papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4041556 7/8
Also flagging an interesting OECD report on the feasibility of sharing price info.
Tldr; a fair number of countries are obligated to, so while we might expect some effects on manufacturers pushing harder for secrecy, they will not be able to do so everywhere. 6/8
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Tldr; a fair number of countries are obligated to, so while we might expect some effects on manufacturers pushing harder for secrecy, they will not be able to do so everywhere. 6/8
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
May 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Also flagging an interesting OECD report on the feasibility of sharing price info.
Tldr; a fair number of countries are obligated to, so while we might expect some effects on manufacturers pushing harder for secrecy, they will not be able to do so everywhere. 6/8
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Tldr; a fair number of countries are obligated to, so while we might expect some effects on manufacturers pushing harder for secrecy, they will not be able to do so everywhere. 6/8
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Other countries with consistently good (or better, anyway) prices on patented drugs = Japan, Australia, Canada.
Here's a KFF analysis across some key drugs.
www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-me...
The good news is these three should stay in no matter how GDP is calculated. 4/8
Here's a KFF analysis across some key drugs.
www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-me...
The good news is these three should stay in no matter how GDP is calculated. 4/8
May 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Other countries with consistently good (or better, anyway) prices on patented drugs = Japan, Australia, Canada.
Here's a KFF analysis across some key drugs.
www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-me...
The good news is these three should stay in no matter how GDP is calculated. 4/8
Here's a KFF analysis across some key drugs.
www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-me...
The good news is these three should stay in no matter how GDP is calculated. 4/8
Here's a quick and dirty analysis of OECD countries that exceed this threshold.
US GDP per capita = $82,769. 60% = $49,662.
If they're using 2023 data, the UK squeaks past for both, which is important bc UK gets good prices bc NICE. 3/8
US GDP per capita = $82,769. 60% = $49,662.
If they're using 2023 data, the UK squeaks past for both, which is important bc UK gets good prices bc NICE. 3/8
May 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Here's a quick and dirty analysis of OECD countries that exceed this threshold.
US GDP per capita = $82,769. 60% = $49,662.
If they're using 2023 data, the UK squeaks past for both, which is important bc UK gets good prices bc NICE. 3/8
US GDP per capita = $82,769. 60% = $49,662.
If they're using 2023 data, the UK squeaks past for both, which is important bc UK gets good prices bc NICE. 3/8
How to save health and science?
There's a lot to do and space for diversity of tactics, but nice to see @reshmagar.bsky.social's relentless advocacy to bring the data back online featured in the Times today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/o...
There's a lot to do and space for diversity of tactics, but nice to see @reshmagar.bsky.social's relentless advocacy to bring the data back online featured in the Times today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/o...
May 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
How to save health and science?
There's a lot to do and space for diversity of tactics, but nice to see @reshmagar.bsky.social's relentless advocacy to bring the data back online featured in the Times today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/o...
There's a lot to do and space for diversity of tactics, but nice to see @reshmagar.bsky.social's relentless advocacy to bring the data back online featured in the Times today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/o...
The headlines today are the China tariffs are paused.
To my knowledge - pharma tariffs are still very much on the table.
MSF-USA responded to the Dept of Commerce's request for public comment with concerns abt their effects on manufacturing, supply chains, and access. 🧵 1/
bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
To my knowledge - pharma tariffs are still very much on the table.
MSF-USA responded to the Dept of Commerce's request for public comment with concerns abt their effects on manufacturing, supply chains, and access. 🧵 1/
bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
May 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The headlines today are the China tariffs are paused.
To my knowledge - pharma tariffs are still very much on the table.
MSF-USA responded to the Dept of Commerce's request for public comment with concerns abt their effects on manufacturing, supply chains, and access. 🧵 1/
bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
To my knowledge - pharma tariffs are still very much on the table.
MSF-USA responded to the Dept of Commerce's request for public comment with concerns abt their effects on manufacturing, supply chains, and access. 🧵 1/
bit.ly/MSFpharmatar...
#Special301 (list of US trade grievances against the world) is out today.
Will write more later, but 2 highlights:
1) Explicit affirmation that the US still apparently respects Doha
2) The inconsistency on tariffs wd be darkly hilarious if it weren't at risk of collapsing some drug markets.
Will write more later, but 2 highlights:
1) Explicit affirmation that the US still apparently respects Doha
2) The inconsistency on tariffs wd be darkly hilarious if it weren't at risk of collapsing some drug markets.
April 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
#Special301 (list of US trade grievances against the world) is out today.
Will write more later, but 2 highlights:
1) Explicit affirmation that the US still apparently respects Doha
2) The inconsistency on tariffs wd be darkly hilarious if it weren't at risk of collapsing some drug markets.
Will write more later, but 2 highlights:
1) Explicit affirmation that the US still apparently respects Doha
2) The inconsistency on tariffs wd be darkly hilarious if it weren't at risk of collapsing some drug markets.
Wild that Sanofi can host a whole health equity conference and skip the health equity area where they have responsibility and complete control - their drug prices.
healthequitysummit25.splashthat.com/ps?utm_id=67... 💊🌐
healthequitysummit25.splashthat.com/ps?utm_id=67... 💊🌐
April 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Wild that Sanofi can host a whole health equity conference and skip the health equity area where they have responsibility and complete control - their drug prices.
healthequitysummit25.splashthat.com/ps?utm_id=67... 💊🌐
healthequitysummit25.splashthat.com/ps?utm_id=67... 💊🌐
I’m begging biz leaders & academics to grasp the weight of this moment. Don’t let grifting for contracts or chasing oped/journal hot takes cause you to lead policymakers down a path of believing that medical research & drug supply have to be zero sum games b/w the US and China. We can do better. 14/
April 21, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I’m begging biz leaders & academics to grasp the weight of this moment. Don’t let grifting for contracts or chasing oped/journal hot takes cause you to lead policymakers down a path of believing that medical research & drug supply have to be zero sum games b/w the US and China. We can do better. 14/
A few points:
What does overcentralization of pooled procurement mean?
What is the right amount of centralization? It depends on what you want.
If the market doesn't attract the private sector bc it's small or has low margins, you need economies of scale for the market to function. 2/
What does overcentralization of pooled procurement mean?
What is the right amount of centralization? It depends on what you want.
If the market doesn't attract the private sector bc it's small or has low margins, you need economies of scale for the market to function. 2/
March 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
A few points:
What does overcentralization of pooled procurement mean?
What is the right amount of centralization? It depends on what you want.
If the market doesn't attract the private sector bc it's small or has low margins, you need economies of scale for the market to function. 2/
What does overcentralization of pooled procurement mean?
What is the right amount of centralization? It depends on what you want.
If the market doesn't attract the private sector bc it's small or has low margins, you need economies of scale for the market to function. 2/
Working in global health, I've heard every version of these justifications for anticipatory obedience this month.
Theirs is a divide & conquer strategy and a false game. Giving up abortion and trans rights is both wrong and not going to win back NIH or PEPFAR, folks.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
Theirs is a divide & conquer strategy and a false game. Giving up abortion and trans rights is both wrong and not going to win back NIH or PEPFAR, folks.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
February 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Working in global health, I've heard every version of these justifications for anticipatory obedience this month.
Theirs is a divide & conquer strategy and a false game. Giving up abortion and trans rights is both wrong and not going to win back NIH or PEPFAR, folks.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
Theirs is a divide & conquer strategy and a false game. Giving up abortion and trans rights is both wrong and not going to win back NIH or PEPFAR, folks.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is (was?) a global biomedical research funding organization.
CDMRP conduct(ed) "high-impact, high-risk, and high-gain projects that other agencies [and the private sector] may not support."
CDMRP conduct(ed) "high-impact, high-risk, and high-gain projects that other agencies [and the private sector] may not support."
February 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) is (was?) a global biomedical research funding organization.
CDMRP conduct(ed) "high-impact, high-risk, and high-gain projects that other agencies [and the private sector] may not support."
CDMRP conduct(ed) "high-impact, high-risk, and high-gain projects that other agencies [and the private sector] may not support."