Overcoming years of stalemate, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) agreed to negotiate a proposed treaty on genetic resources and related traditional knowledge (TK) that are key components in both traditional and new medicines. Delegates to WIPO’s General Assembly decided that the negotiations both to begin the draft international instrument and to conclude the talks […] Continue reading ->
World Health Organization (WHO) member states have agreed that the future pandemic “treaty” currently being negotiated will be legally binding at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) meeting that ended on Thursday – a day earlier than expected thanks to smooth negotiations. The INB agreed that the treaty will be set up in terms of Article […] Continue reading ->
COVID-19 exposed Africa’s vulnerabilities and its urgent need for local innovation and drug development. Leading African scientist KELLY CHIBALE discusses some of the key challenges. Improving scientific skills in Africa and stemming the continent’s brain drain weigh heavily on Professor Kelly Chibale’s mind, particularly as COVID-19 pandemic has damaged fragile health systems and reversed hard-fought […] Continue reading ->
Should the corporate sector be allowed to engage in negotiations around the new binding instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response that is being developed by World Health Organization member states? This week’s closed-door debate by WHO member states to decide who should get a seat around the table risks opening a Pandora’s box of […] Continue reading ->
The question of whether pathogens’ genomic sequences should be shared freely – or in exchange for a clear benefit – as well as the role ‘One Health’ should play in any new Pandemic Convention or legal accord were key points of emerging dispute among member states on Day 2 of the Intergovernmental Board Meeting (INB).  […] Continue reading ->
Major pharmaceutical companies have offered to reserve a “real-time allocation” of vaccines and treatments upfront for “priority populations in lower-income countries” in future pandemics – providing the G7 and G20 also help low-income countries finance and make effective use of the products. Launching its Berlin Declaration on Tuesday, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and […] Continue reading ->