
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
Setting the record straight on the Bayh-Dole Act and March-in

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently made the right decision to uphold the Bayh-Dole Act and not seize patent rights on an innovative medicine by exploiting part of the law known as the...
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World IP Day 2023: Celebrating women leaders in innovation

Today PhRMA joins with innovators around the globe to recognize World IP Day and celebrate biopharmaceutical innovators who dedicate their lives to bringing new treatments and cures to patients. It’s...
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What they are saying: Experts reinforce that TRIPS waiver expansion is harmful and unnecessary

At the direction of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USTIC) is investigating the impact of a proposed waiver of intellectual property (IP) protections for...
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FDA-USPTO collaboration initiatives should be evidence-based, prioritize innovation

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are in the process of considering new collaboration initiatives aimed at biopharmaceutical...
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PhRMA submits comments to USPTO highlighting important role of patent system in medicine development

PhRMA responded to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) request for comments regarding USPTO initiatives to ensure the robustness and reliability of patent rights.
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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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