Big pharma pushes back against WHO patent pool
The leaders of some of the world’s largest pharma companies appear to be resistant to a World Health Organization (WHO) voluntary pool aimed at making vaccines, tests, treatments and other health technologies to fight COVID-19 accessible to all.
Late last month, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) organised a forum, in which leaders from big pharma discussed the COVID-19 pandemic.
When questioned about the WHO initiative, Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca, said he wasn’t aware of it, but that IP is a fundamental part of the industry and “if you don’t protect IP, there’s no incentive for anybody to innovate”.
He added: “What is important is that companies volunteer to provide their products at no profit, like we’re doing right now in case of a pandemic or crisis, when it’s needed. But I don’t know that necessarily challenging IP ... is the solution to this issue. The solution is to have a robust pharmaceutical industry that steps up to help when needed.”
Albert Bourla, chief executive of Pfizer, seemed more resistant to the idea. “At this point in time, I think it’s nonsense, and… it’s also dangerous,” he said.
Bourla added that companies are “investing billions to find a solution and, keep in mind, if you have a discovery, we are going to take your IP I think, is dangerous”.
It’s not clear to what extent the executives were familiar with the voluntary WHO initiative, which does not seize IP but rather seeks contributions.
Responding to LSIPR’s request for clarification, a spokesperson for AstraZeneca, said: “IP is a fundamental part of our industry and is a very powerful driver of innovation in technology industries such as pharmaceuticals.
“Challenging its ownership is not the solution. What is needed in times of crisis like this is a robust pharmaceutical industry that can move quickly, has capacity and scale and that can step up to help, and to do it at no profit.”
The spokesperson added that AstraZeneca has committed to broad and equitable access globally and is doing this at no profit during the pandemic.
In late May, the World Health Organization and Costa Rica launched the COVID-19 technology pool. Multiple international partners and institutions and 37 countries rallied together to support the initiative.
Under the initiative, potential treatment, diagnostic, vaccine or other health technology will be licensed to the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool.
At the launch of the pool, WHO and the co-sponsor countries issued a “solidarity call to action” asking relevant stakeholders to join and support the initiative.
However, IFPMA said that while it shared a number of the objectives of access and cooperation of the “solidarity call to action”, it disagreed with some of its premises, as “they imply that IP rights that are not waived or licensed globally are potential barriers to R&D, public-private collaborations or access to COVID-19 products”.
The association added that the solidarity call to action promotes a “one-size-fits all model” that disregards the specific circumstances of each situation, each product and each country.
“Different regions and countries will face different challenges regarding the manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. Any access tools, including patent licensing mechanisms, should therefore allow for customised solutions to real-world problems that may arise,” added IFPMA.
AstraZeneca is currently in advanced discussions with international organisations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the WHO for the fair allocation and distribution of the vaccine around the world.
It is also in discussions with the Serum Institute of India and other potential partners to increase production and distribution, particularly for low-and-middle income come countries, according to the company’s spokesperson.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox.
