When alliances fail, is arbitration the answer?

24-02-2022

When alliances fail, is arbitration the answer?

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The global pandemic has increased collaboration and a new wave of disputes is likely. Arbitration is well placed to help, argue Kate Davies McGill, Gaela Gehring Flores and Paul Keller of Allen & Overy

The COVID-19 global pandemic has seen alliances between pharmaceuticals giants and, on the one hand, universities (Oxford University and AstraZeneca) and, on the other, small, family-owned biotechnology companies (BioNTech and Pfizer) to develop vaccines. 

We have also seen institutions, governmental agencies, foundations and global vaccine alliances join forces with industry to manufacture and deliver the vaccines at a pace never seen before.

Partnership and collaboration is not new to the life sciences sector, however. They are established tools for sharing the know-how, skills and resources needed to conduct clinical trials, and then commercialise, market and distribute a product into the markets where it is most needed.


arbitration, patent disputes, life sciences, covid-19, AstraZeneca, pfizer, Biontech, vaccines, medtech

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