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Pfizer Chief Calls Patent Pool ‘Nonsense’, Fears Tussle Over Vaccine

Big Pharma Pledges No Profits During Pandemic, But Will Not Relinquish IP

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

Pharma will oppose a patent pool, but the world still needs a way to guarantee fair access to COVID-19 vaccines.

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The WHO-backed patent pool aims to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics will be available to all patients worldwide - but pharma says surrendering IP is not the solution

The World Health Organization is to unveil plans for a voluntary global patent pool for COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and diagnostics, but has been criticized by big pharma leaders before its launch.

The issue has arisen as hopes that a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 might just be ready before the end of 2020...

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