The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic

The rapid development of new COVID-19 vaccines and treatments over the past year is a triumph of innovation. Billions of vaccine doses are being manufactured and should be distributed to all adults globally over the next 18 months. But some argue that suspending intellectual property (IP) rights to allow any company to manufacture vaccines will mean faster access for developing countries. These arguments have culminated in a proposal at the World Trade Organization for a temporary global waiver on COVID-19-related IP rights.

ITIF and Geneva Network hosted a discussion on the role of IP rights in vaccine and therapeutic R&D, manufacturing, and preparedness for future pandemics. Panelists from around the world will discuss the best ways to scale up mass vaccine and therapeutic manufacturing and examine the implications that would arise from a global waiver of IP rights.