London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

US move on vaccine intellectual property is a 'monumental moment' in COVID-19 fight

US move on vaccine intellectual property is a 'monumental moment' in COVID-19 fight

A waiver could boost production by lifting intellectual property protections and the EU is also now willing to discuss the move.

The head of the World Health Organization says the US backing of a proposed waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID vaccines is a "monumental moment" in the fight against the virus.

A waiver - which Europe's leaders say they are now also ready to discuss - could significantly boost vaccine production around the world by lifting patents, copyrights and protections for industrial design and confidential information.

This could mean easier access to vaccines for those in poorer and middle-income countries, many of whom have been at the back of the queue while others such as the US and UK have been able to vaccinate large numbers of their own people.


But there were warnings from the pharmaceutical industry about potential harm to future innovation as well as the safety of vaccines being produced in a potential free-for-all.

Sceptics also pointed to other issues such as the apparent unwillingness of some countries to export vaccines, and production supply, rather than patents, being to blame for shortages.

The issue of global access to vaccines has become more urgent with the surge of cases in India, the world's second-most populous country.

WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has repeatedly urged the world to support the waiver proposal, which was initially brought to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by India and South Africa in October last year.

After the announcement by the Biden administration, he said on Twitter: "This is a monumental moment in the fight against COVID-19.

"The commitment by (Joe Biden and US trade representative Katherine Tai) to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of United States leadership to address global health challenges."


More than 100 countries support the proposal and Mr Biden had been under growing pressure from a group within Congress - all fellow Democrats who backed the waiver.

European Commission president Ursula van der Leyen said the EU was "ready to discuss any proposals that address the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner".

"That's why we are ready to discuss how the US proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines could help achieve that objective," she said.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said he was "very much in favour" of opening up intellectual property.

However, a French government official said it was lack of production capacity and components that was the problem rather than patents, adding: "It is the United States which has not exported a single dose to other countries and which is now talking about lifting the patents."

The UK government said in a statement that it was "working with WTO members to resolve this issue" and was in discussions with countries including the US to try to boost COVID vaccine production and supply.

Britain has previously encouraged knowledge sharing between industry and manufacturers, but stopped short of calling for IP waivers.

Those in favour of the move say it is already among the WTO's tools and there is no better time to use it than during a pandemic that has killed 3.2 million people, infected more than 400 million more, and ruined economies around the world.

Earlier Ms Tai said: "This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures.

"The administration's aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible."

But those against it say producing the vaccines is difficult and the process of vaccinating the world cannot be sped up simply by easing intellectual property laws.

Frankfurt-listed shares of Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax fell 5.2%, 8.2% and 10.1% respectively on Thursday, extending losses of up to 6% seen the previous day.

London-listed shares of AstraZeneca, which has sold its vaccine not-for-profit, did not move.

Adam John Ritchie, senior project manager and vaccine scientist at the Jenner Institute, was one of the key people involved in setting up manufacture for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

He said: "It feels like trying to fight the HIV drug battle all over again.

"The manufacturing of these vaccines is much more complex, thus tech transfer becomes more important.

"Supply chains are the real bottleneck right now anyway."

Dr Richard Torbett, who heads the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, told Sky's Ian King Live there were real concerns over safety in the event of a production free-for-all.

Both also said that lifting such intellectual property protections could hurt future innovation - companies can spend a lot of money researching such breakthroughs and they rely on the protections to make sure their work is not then copied by others for easy profit.

Ms Tai has also warned it will take time to reach the global consensus needed to waive the protections under WTO rules and officials have said any effect on vaccine supply will not be immediate.

Also on Wednesday, WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spoke to a gathering of ambassadors from developing and developed countries about the issue.

WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said the countries agree on the need for wider access to COVID-19 vaccines and a panel has been set up to discuss the proposal at a "tentative" meeting later this month before a formal gathering in early June.

A consensus could take some time but Mr Rockwell said there had been a recent change in tone after months of arguing, adding that the discussion was now "far more constructive, pragmatic".

"It was less emotive and less finger pointing than it had been in the past," he said.

"I think that this feeling of everyone-being-in-it-together was being expressed in a way that I had not heard to this point."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×