Reuters: WTO delays decision on waiver on COVID-19 drug, vaccine rights
“World Trade Organization members on Thursday delayed a decision on a proposal to waive intellectual property rules for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines amid ongoing opposition from wealthy countries, a Geneva trade official said. ‘Big Pharma’ has rejected an idea proposed by India and South Africa that would grant compulsory licensing of the vaccines and drugs by overriding patent rules of WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement, allowing generic or other manufactures to make the new products. The proposal has won support from some countries at the WTO but is opposed by Western countries, including Britain, Switzerland, and the United States, which have strong domestic pharmaceutical industries…” (Farge/Nebehay, 12/10).