Year Of IP: From The TRIPS Waiver Proposal To The Moderna-NIH Patent Tussle
Executive Summary
Intellectual property became front page news in 2021 as the pandemic ignited a debate on the role of patents in accessing COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. 2022 will see a decision on the TRIPS waiver, a new USPTO director, and action on a pending march-in petition.
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Proposed agreement limits waiver of certain patent rights to COVID-19 vaccines with potential to extend to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. India, South Africa, US and EU have agreed to the compromise but whether it becomes final depends on other WTO member countries.
IP Questions Could Dog The WHO's BioHub Pandemic Project
The World Health Organization’s BioHub project is gathering momentum, with the spotlight on the equitable and timely sharing of viruses and other biological materials to develop medical products for use in future health emergencies such as a pandemic. But while its objectives are lauded by many, concerns have been raised about the intellectual property implications of the project.