Turkish Patent Institute on Modernization, Ties

UNCLAS ANKARA 006373 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TPP/MTA/IPC DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR BPECK USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/DDEFALCO DEPT PASS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DEPT PASS USPTO SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR TU SUBJECT: Turkish Patent Institute on Modernization, Ties with U.S. Counterpart, Zyprexa Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Handle Accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) In a November 5 meeting with Econ Couns, Econoff and Econ Specialist, Turkish Patent Institute (Turkish acronym TPE) President Yusuf Balci said he would like to reach out to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in the context of his institution's modernization and development, much of which has been financed by the World Bank. Econ Couns briefed Balci on Eli Lilly's Zyprexa issue and urged him to take action to prevent marketing approval for patent-infringing generic copies of this drug. ¶2. (U) Econ Couns paid an introductory call on Yusuf Balci, President of TPE, which moved into a large and modern facility in Ankara last spring. Balci told us that the World Bank had financed a large part of TPE's modernization project, which included the move to a new facility. ¶3. (U) TPE is a member of the European Patent Institute (EPI),and uses EPI and the Russian Patent Institute to conduct patent searches. Balci stated that he hoped TPE would gradually begin to take on an increasing share of these searches in house. Balci hopes that Turkey's EPI membership and European orientation will not detract from fruitful cooperation with non-European counterparts like PTO. Balci participated in the recent PTO-Justice Ministry workshop on IPR enforcement, and his staff has said that they plan to nominate an employee for PTO training to be held in the spring of 2005. Balci told us that he hopes to go beyond training programs and seminars, and to engage with PTO in exchange of expertise and knowhow. Econ Couns undertook to communicate this desire to PTO. ¶4. (SBU) Econ Couns took the opportunity to raise Eli Lilly's concerns about the applications of generic manufacturers for marketing approval of a copy of Zyprexa, which has a valid Turkish patent not due to expire until 2016. The company is concerned that one application is in the final stages of the approval process. We provided copies of recent correspondence initiated by the Ambassador and Senator Lugar on this problem, and asked Balci to help ensure that the patent is not infringed. Balci, who was not familiar with the issue, responded that he had no power to stop marketing approval by the Health Ministry, but offered to contact counterparts in that Ministry to convey our concerns. Edelman