Why things could get ugly over COVID-19 patents

30-04-2020

Mark Engelman

Why things could get ugly over COVID-19 patents

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Foreign patents protecting COVID-19 treatments may stall efforts to protect citizens, says Mark Engelman of Hardwicke chambers.

In a time of crisis, access to appropriate pharmaceuticals is of paramount importance. At present there are six UK centres attempting to find an antiviral treatment for the COVID-19 virus.

There are many more other drug interventions being sought around the world to stop the rampage of the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists at least 60 such projects.

Access to patented pharmaceutical subject matter is denied by the ownership of a patent.


COVID-19, patents, UK, US, Gilead, remdesivir, the world health organization, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Donald Trump, coronavirus, pandemic

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