STAT+: Drug makers urge Biden to reject proposal to waive patent rights on Covid-19 products
More than two dozen of the largest pharmaceutical companies are urging President Biden to reject a proposal before the World Trade Organization to temporarily waive patent rights in order to widen access to Covid-19 medical products to mostly low-income countries.
In a March 5 letter, the drug makers argue that, contrary to assertions, intellectual property is not a barrier to ensuring that vaccines and therapies become available on a global basis. Along with their trade groups, the companies also maintained that eliminating intellectual property protection to allow other manufacturers to make certain products would not speed production or access.
