
Megan Van Etten Megan Van Etten is senior director of public affairs at PhRMA. She is responsible for leading the association’s public affairs efforts on international issues, including trade, intellectual property and access to medicines. Prior to joining PhRMA, Megan was director of media and external communications at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and communications director at the Beer Institute. She has also worked as a communications consultant for global public relations firms. When not at the office, Megan enjoys exploring new Washington, D.C. restaurants and traveling with her husband and friends.
Recent Posts
Expanding TRIPS waiver would jeopardize biopharmaceutical research and development

The United States has led the charge in the development of vaccines and treatments to combat COVID-19 thanks in large part to our robust innovation ecosystem, supported by intellectual property (IP)...
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Six ways I-MAK is lying about biopharma patents

The Arnold-Venture funded advocacy group Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge, Inc. (or I-MAK) is on a global media tour, espousing their point of view on the patent system. Some experts and...
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TRIPS waiver expansion risks public health

The Biden administration and other World Trade Organization members are considering expanding the harmful and unnecessary waiver of intellectual property (IP) protections under the Agreement on...
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Expanding the WTO intellectual property waiver will hurt American jobs

The June decision by WTO members to waive commitments to protect intellectual property (IP) for COVID-19 vaccines under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement was...
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The law driving technology transfer and fostering innovation

The bipartisan Bayh-Dole Act created a framework for researchers receiving federal funds to patent and license their inventions to companies for further development and commercialization. This...
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New report ignores benefits of patent system to innovation and patients

A recent report from the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge – known as I-MAK – highlights fundamental misunderstandings about America’s patent system and how it benefits patients and...
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Partnerships are driving global COVID-19 treatment access

Through the constant efforts of U.S. innovators and their global partners, COVID-19 treatments have continued to be distributed to patients around the world — changing the pandemic’s treatment...
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The dangers of expanding the TRIPS waiver

World Trade Organization (WTO) members, including the United States, are considering waiving commitments to honor certain intellectual property (IP) rights on COVID-19 treatments, following a harmful...
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Patent policy changes proposed by USPTO and FDA would leave patients behind

Kathi Vidal, Director of the USPTO, and Robert M. Califf, FDA Commissioner, recently outlined several policy areas where they plan to collaborate on addressing drug pricing. PhRMA supports the goal...
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ICYMI: PhRMA’s Ubl pens op-ed on IP waiver for COVID-19 technologies

Member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recently agreed to a waiver of intellectual property (IP) protections for COVID-19 vaccines as part of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual...
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