Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.1
Timeline and terms of Hoodia benefi t-sharing agreement
Timeline of agreement
1963: Knowing about its use by San, CSIR (a state-owned South African
research institute) starts researching Hoodia and “discovers” its appetite-
suppressant quality
1996: CSIR begins with fi ling patent applications for P57 around the world
1997: CSIR signs contract with Phytopharm, which allows the latter to further
develop P57
1998: UK patent and world patent are secured for P57.
1998: Phytopharm signs sublicensing agreement with Pfi zer to develop and
commercialize P57
2001: Survival International informs San (WIMSA) about the P57 patent.
2001: Negotiations start between San and CSIR about the P57 project and
CSIR apologizes for not consulting with the San.
2003: Benefi t-sharing agreement
2004: Pfi zer pulls out; new agreement with Unilever
2007: Signing of new benefi t-sharing agreement with Hoodia growers
2008: Unilever pulls out of the project.
Terms of agreement
CSIR will pay the San 8% of all the milestone payments it receives from
Phytopharm.CSIR will pay the San 6% of all the royalties CSIR receives.
The San have proposed the following in terms of distribution of the profi ts
from the Hoodia:
75% equally divided between the San of Namibia, Botswana, Angola, and
South Africa
- 30% of each country's proceeds should cover the administration of the
country's San Council
- 70% should go to development projects
10% as working capital to the Hoodia Benefi t Sharing Trust
0% to be kept by WIMSA as an emergency reserve
5% to WIMSA for administrative purposes
