EU, France Ease Up On Vaccine IP After US States Support

Both the European Union and the French gov't have today voiced some support for the relaxation of intellectual property rights surrounding COVID-19 vaccines after USTR Katherine Tai announced last night that the Biden administration would support easing patent rules in an effort to stem the pandemic.

• Tai's statement said: "The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines...As our vaccine supply for the American people is secured, the Administration will continue to ramp up its efforts -- working with the private sector and all possible partners -- to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution. It will also work to increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines."
• This morning heads of the European Commission and European Council voiced support for holding talks with the US over an IP waiver, while French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he was in favour of vaccine IP being opened up.
• Pharma giants have voiced concerns about removing IP waivers, but the initial call at the WTO from India and South Africa to allow for wider production of vaccines appears to have met a receptive audience, likely helped by the sheer scale of the outbreak currently affecting India.