Access to Medicines Ireland has welcomed news that the US administration will support the campaign to waive intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organisation.
The Irish campaign group said the move could be a turning point in achieving global equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, adding it expects the new US policy will be a catalyst for change among Irish and EU leaders.
"Ireland and Europe must row in behind the USA and support the waiver if we are to remain on the right side of history," commented Access to Medicines Ireland's co-founder Dr Kieran Harkin.
Dr Harkin said now that this paradigm shift has happened in trade relations, the group was optimistic that Ireland and the EU will follow suit and support the waiver of IP rights for COVID-19 vaccines.
"However, it is also vital that there is cooperation from the pharmaceutical industry so that technology and expertise is shared with new vaccine manufacturers around the world, and that regulatory approval for their products can be gained more quickly," he added.
He also said it is vital that the temporary waiver of IP rights at the WTO should remain focused on treatments and diagnostics for Covid-19, and not just vaccines.
But BioPharmaChem Ireland has voiced concern about the decision of the US Government to support a move towards lifting patent protection on Covid 19 vaccines.
The Ibec group said that intellectual property is critical to the research activities of the sector and subsequent commercialisation of products.
Matt Moran, Director of BPCI, said that IP underpins the research that led to the discovery of the vaccines that are being used and allowed companies to form partnerships on the basis that IP was going to be respected.
"Any move to weaken IP would be a concern to the industry as it could disrupt supply chains and lead to low-quality products being made. Waiving patents of Covid 19 vaccines will not increase production but will lead to disruption," Mr Moran stated.
He said that if approved by the WTO, the waiver would remove incentives for innovator companies to continue research for new variants.
"BPCI would rather see a focus on issues of concern in the fight against Covid-19 such as trade barriers, supply chain problems and scarcity of raw materials and ingredients in the supply chain," he added.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), which represents big-pharma in Ireland, has also urged the Government to oppose proposals for a global waiver of the intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines.
IPHA said the move would not boost production capacity for Covid-19 vaccines and would instead set back the medicines innovation agenda.
"It is a short-sighted and ineffectual decision that puts at risk the hard-won progress in fighting Covid-19," Oliver O'Connor, IPHA's chief executive, said.
