ICYMI: US President Joe Biden backed the US entering negotiations at the World Trade Organization for the waiver of intellectual property rights as a means to boost vaccine supplies by allowing poorer countries to make their own.
Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer Inc, said https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/today-i-sent-letter-have-candid-conversation-our-drivers-bourla/?trackingId=p8C%2Fu3lALltT9tyeCAaSzA%3D%3D on Friday that the proposed waiver would disrupt progress made so far in boosting vaccine supplies. “It will unleash a scramble for the critical inputs we require in order to make a safe and effective vaccine.
A senior Biden administration official said that while the priority is saving lives, the United States “would want to examine the effect of a waiver on China and Russia before it went into effect to ensure that it’s fit for purpose.” The contents of the document read to a Reuters reporter by an industry representative said the Biden administration believes it can address those concerns through the WTO negotiations, but did not specify how. The source added that some agencies in the Biden administration have conflicting views of how to address the concerns in negotiations that are expected to take months.
Pfizer and Moderna spokespersons did not respond to requests for comment on technology transfer concerns, while a Novavax spokesperson referred Reuters to the company’s statement https://ir.novavax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/novavax-statement-opposition-wto-trips-waiver opposing the waiver on Friday, which said proposals to “weaken intellectual property protections would not achieve equitable vaccine access.
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