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In two years, biopharmaceutical companies have gone from zero to 13 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses
produced. They’re worked across the industry and on every continent to meet the global demand for COVID-19
innovation. Yet global trade officials will gather for the World Trade Organization(WTO) ministerial meeting
in June to debate whether and how to allow countries to confiscate intellectual property(IP) rights for pandemic-
related products as part of the WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS)Agreement.
Here are there reasons that underscore why its unthinkable to focus on IP waivers, and where policymakers
should concentrate efforts instead.
Efforts to waive IP commitments have proven unnecessary and would be harmful to our collective work to end
the pandemic and continue innovating for the next global health challenge. Leaders from nations and
multilateral organizations around the world have noted that COVD-19 vaccine supply is not a barrier to access.
So, why are officials entertaining a waiver that will do nothing except upend the every innovation ecosystem
responsible for current and future progress?