UN Calls for Sharing Intellectual Property for COVID-19 Drugs

The United Nations adopted a resolution calling for pharma companies to waive exclusive rights for their vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 crisis.

The 193 members of the UN’s general assembly called for “fair, transparent, equitable, efficient and timely access” to critical supplies and new treatments.

The UN’s call for sharing patents during the outbreak is just one of many since the pandemic  began. The European Union recently urged the World Health Organization — a UN agency — to create a shared pool of intellectual property rights for vaccines and treatments during the pandemic.

Similarly, a coalition of international aid groups has urged governments to block exclusivity for publicly funded COVID-19 vaccines and treatments to ensure they will be affordable and accessible (DID, April 17).

Drugmakers have also taken steps to facilitate access to their drugs. Gilead surrendered its seven-year Orphan Drug exclusivity for remdesivir, and Mylan waived its exclusive rights to its Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) copycat to help increase supply of the HIV antiviral in case it proves useful against COVID-19. — James Miessler