The Philippines' Ascent in Life Sciences

Innovation in the life sciences sector is experiencing a steady upward trend in the Philippines. This growth has been notably marked by an annual increase of over 4% in patent filings within the pharmaceutical sector since 2020, a development that has inspired other nations to consider adopting the Philippines' strategies, particularly its use of tools and best practices from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) plays a crucial role in this landscape, though it acknowledges the ongoing need for increased collaboration with key partners to overcome challenges and accelerate the development of life-saving treatments and medical technologies. The importance of fostering collaboration was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when multisectoral efforts significantly shortened the typical 10-15 year development timeline for vaccines to just 18 months.

During this period, life science companies, government bodies, and medical and research institutes worked relentlessly to create essential medicines and devices. IPOPHL actively supported these efforts by compiling technologies from its network of Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) to offer alternative solutions for market gaps, and by providing 22 free COVID-19-related patent information reports to the pharma industry, academia, and the public for research and development.

Despite this progress, several hurdles persist in life sciences innovation. These challenges include a shortage of skilled workers, insufficient human capital and development funding, a stringent regulatory environment with lengthy certification processes, a lack of commercial expertise and partnerships, and a general lack of collaboration among innovation actors. 

In response to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s directive to strengthen collaboration with WIPO and other partners, IPOPHL is committed to applying solutions to the healthcare system for the benefit of the Filipino people. This aligns with WIPO’s COVID-19 Response Package, launched in 2022, which provides customized support and technical assistance to member states for pandemic response and future resilience.

To address the challenges, IPOPHL has forged important partnerships. One significant collaboration is with the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), aimed at protecting the public from counterfeit drugs and fostering an environment conducive to affordable, quality healthcare innovations. PHAP has committed to joining the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), expanding the anti-counterfeiting campaign to 37 members. This MOU, established in 2021, facilitates collaboration between online platforms (Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, Zalora) and brand owners to prevent and remove online IP infringements.

Furthermore, PHAP is working closely with IPOPHL to leverage the IP system for greater collaboration among innovators and to enhance access to medicines for local healthcare challenges. Both parties plan to develop a work plan, engage in knowledge-sharing on issues like emerging counterfeit drug schemes and ethical collaboration, and consult on legislative measures such as amendments to the IP Code of 1997 and the Pharmaceutical Innovation Bill.

These partnerships also aim to strengthen the country’s IP regime for healthcare innovation and launch joint anti-counterfeiting campaigns. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual has lauded this partnership, emphasizing its role in upholding integrity and innovation within the pharmaceutical healthcare industry.

Beyond these collaborations, other key entities contribute significantly to health innovation:

Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)

As one of the three sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PCHRD is responsible for coordinating and monitoring health research activities. It focuses on Research Utilization, which includes an Intellectual Property and Technology Management Program (IPTM) that offers services for the protection, management, and utilization of health innovations, guiding them from the lab to market launch.

The IPROTECH Program provides IP-related services and assistance to PCHRD Research and Health Development Centers (RHRDC) members, including:

1. Development of institutional IP policies aligned with the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009 (RA 10055) and DOST IP Policy;

2.  Assistance in establishing institutional technology transfer processes;

3. Securing various IP protections like patent, utility model, PCT, NPE, trademark, industrial design, and copyright applications; and

4. Assistance in obtaining IP valuation and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) reports. Support for drafting licensing agreements.

PCHRD also offers a Startup Research Grant Program (SGP) to financially support health sector startups in overcoming R&D roadblocks, strengthening IP, establishing market traction, refining business models, and scaling production.

The TEKI in Health program (Technology Transformation and Empowerment of Knowledge Generators and Innovators in Health) assists researchers and institutions in utilizing their health innovations through community adoption or spin-off companies, offering services like entrepreneurship mentoring, legal counseling, and business development.

PCHRD is deeply involved in Research to Policy Translation, providing inputs to legislative measures like the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program, IP Code Amendment, and the Pharmaceutical Innovation Bill. They also develop policy briefs from PCHRD-funded projects, hold policy dialogues, and conduct capacity-building activities like the "3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers Competition".

Additionally, PCHRD supports Research Dissemination through its Support to Research Dissemination (SRD) Program, which funds paper presentations, scientific events, and publications in peer-reviewed journals, books, and monographs.

Its Information Products and Services (IPS) unit maintains systems like the Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN), an online platform providing access to over 50,000 health research citations and bibliographic information, and the Philippine Health Research Registry (PHRR), a publicly accessible database for newly approved health research and clinical trials. PCHRD also manages the Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health (TKDL), a national repository of information on medicinal plants and traditional healing practices.

University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO)

UPM TTBDO actively showcases medical research breakthroughs and technological innovations, as demonstrated at the First Philippine Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Expo. Their experts presented various cutting-edge solutions, including:

1. The Bundoc Ergonomic Surgical Rongeur, DISSECT (Dissection In-Situ Submersible Ergonomic Cadaver Table), and MOViES (Mobile Operational Video Educational System) by Dr. Rafael C. Bundoc; 

2. Innovative work on "Predicting Complications for Leptospirosis" by Rafael Joshua De Guzman;

3. AXEL Virtual Care: Immersive gamification technology system for cognitive and motor disabilities by Prof. Maria Eliza R. Aguila;

4. The ETox Point of Care Testing Device by Dr. Ailyn M. Yabes;

5. Several herbal medicine innovations from the NIH – Institute of Herbal Medicine (IHM), such as Akapulco Lotion for fungal skin infections, Ulasimang Bato for hyperuricemia, Yerba Buena as an analgesic, and Tsaang Gubat for abdominal pain; and

6. The HyPer-UV: Hydrogen peroxide-UV Disinfection Device by Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella. UPM TTBDO boasts impressive accomplishments, including 110 active case disclosures, 209 intellectual property rights (IP), 12 granted patents, 45 registered utility models, 11 registered trademarks, and 84 registered copyrights. They have successfully commercialized 21 IP rights across medical services, diagnostics, therapeutics, and digital health solutions, with notable examples like Ampalaya Tablet, Tsaang Gubat Tablet, Ulasimang Bato Tablet, Lagundi syrup, and Sambong Tablet. These achievements have earned UPM TTBDO the IPOPHL’s PLATINUM AWARD as an Innovation & Technology Support Office (ITSO) for four consecutive years (2020-2023).

The Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa has articulated the Philippines' goal to achieve high middle-income status by 2025, despite current health indices reflecting a low-income country. He emphasized the need for increased government investment in healthcare and outlined plans to establish pharmaceutical zones to invite international companies for local drug and medical equipment manufacturing, alongside a commitment to build 179 specialty centers across the country. 

This collective effort signifies a strong national push towards advancing healthcare innovation and making essential medical products more accessible and affordable for the Filipino population.

Padayon, Pilipinas!

#2025July14

Created and Written by Alexandra Palacpac, U&IP 2025.⁠

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References:

IPOPHL. (2023 September 26). Life sciences innovation grows steadily in PH. Retrieved July 14, 2025: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/news/life-sciences-innovation-grows-steadily-in-ph/#:~:text=September%2026%2C%202023,by%20Campa%C3%B1a%20is%20fostering%20collaboration.

IPOPHL. (2024 April 17). PHAP joins IPOPHL in anti-counterfeiting E-Commerce MOU and promoting healthcare innovations. Retrieved July 14, 2025: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/news/phap-joins-ipophl-in-anti-counterfeiting-e-commerce-mou-and-promoting-healthcare-innovations/#:~:text=Management%20Goals%20%E2%80%93%202030-,PHAP%20joins%20IPOPHL%20in%20anti%2Dcounterfeiting%20E%2DCommerce%20MOU%20and,memoranda%20of%20understanding%20with%20PHAP.

Philippine Council for Health and Research Development (DOST-PCHRD). (n.d.) Intellectual Property and Technology Management Program. Retrieved July 14, 2025: https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/what-we-do/research-utilization/#:~:text=Intellectual%20Property%20and%20Technology%20Management,10055%20and%20DOST%20IP%20Policy.

University of the Philippines Manila - Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (UPM TTBDO). (2024 February 29). Showcases Innovative Healthcare Solutions at Philippine Pharma and Healthcare Expo. Retrieved July 14, 2025: https://www.upm.edu.ph/cpt_news/upm-ttbdo-showcases-innovative-healthcare-solutions-at-philippine-pharma-and-healthcare-expo/#:~:text=She%20said%20that%20TTBDO%20holds,primary%20care%20electronic%20medical%20records).