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5 June 2020Big PharmaRory O'Neill

Has the public got the taste for free medicine?

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the fundamental principles of the IP system, normally a touchstone of advanced economies, called into question. Governments and manufacturers alike are under pressure to assure the public that IP will not be a barrier to accessing the tools needed to fight the disease.

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More on this story

Americas
BIO 2020: IP’s vital role in COVID-19 fight, potential ‘chaos’ of pooling
9 June 2020   Concerns that IP is hindering the development of tools to fight the COVID-19 are unfounded, and now is the time that we need IP the most, according to big pharma representatives.
Americas
Big pharma pushes back against WHO patent pool
4 June 2020   The leaders of some of the world’s largest pharma companies appear to be resistant to a World Health Organization voluntary pool aimed at making vaccines, tests, treatments and other health technologies to fight COVID-19 accessible to all.
Africa
WHO launches COVID-19 pool with 37 countries
29 May 2020   The World Health Organization has launched a COVID-19 technology pool, with 37 countries and multiple international partners and institutions rallying together to support the initiative.


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