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There’s reportedly an agreement on a COVID-19 vaccine IP waiver – here's what we know so far. Also, we recap yesterday’s mark-up of a pandemic preparedness bill and look ahead to two agriculture hearings today. (984 words, 4 minutes, 55 seconds) P.S. Early-bird registration for the BIO International Convention ends tomorrow, March 17—register today to save $200 per person! |
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Breaking News: Agreement reported on waiver of COVID vaccine IP; WTO members still must approve it
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The U.S., EU, India, and South Africa have reportedly reached an agreement on "key elements" of an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, per Reuters, though it would still need to be finalized and approved by World Trade Organization (WTO) members. Here’s what we know so far. The “tentative” agreement would “apply only to patents for COVID-19 vaccines,”reports Reuters. The agreement “does not include COVID-19 treatments or tests, and the limitations would likely exclude China from any waiver.”
“We still need to see and review the full text before rendering a final judgment,”says BIO’s Chief Policy Officer John Murphy. “However, the irrational fixation on weakening IP is simply a distraction from the real challenge of overcoming global vaccine hesitancy, removing actual trade barriers, and helping countries to strengthen their healthcare infrastructure so that we can get more shots in arms.”
What’s next? Many details are TBD, including the length of the waivers. Then, the agreement must be accepted by all 164 WTO members.
The bottom line: “Strong, predictable intellectual property protections are what allowed biopharma companies to produce COVID vaccines and therapeutics in record time,” concludes Murphy. “Dismantling the foundation of innovation—a strong and predictable IP system—will only make us less prepared to respond to the next pandemic and weaken our ability to develop new classes of medicines the world needs.”
Catch up: U.S. support of TRIPS waiver sets a dangerous precedent |
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PREVENT Pandemics Act is ‘a solid first step’ |
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The PREVENT Pandemics Act is “a solid first step in improving pandemic preparedness,” wrote BIO’s Phyllis Arthur ahead of the bill’s mark-up yesterday—but it’s “not the finish line.” ICYMI: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee marked up the PREVENT Pandemics Act (S. 3799) yesterday—a compilation of more than a year’s work to address lessons learned from COVID-19 and build upon investments made during the past two years. The bill passed unanimously out of committee; we wait to hear the next steps for Senate floor consideration.
It’s “a solid foundation,”wrote BIO's Phyllis Arthur in InsideSources, with provisions to “modernize public health data, improve communication among federal, state, and local health officials, and invest in emergency medical services.”
But we must do more to be “adequately prepared for future health crises”—including “leveraging the successes of Operation Warp Speed” and adding The Disease X Act, which would invest in preparing for emerging and unknown health threats, she continued.
“I am disappointed that the bill does not include explicit language requiring BARDA to establish a Disease X medical countermeasures program,”said Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) during the mark-up, around 02:16:00. “The next pandemic driven by an unknown Disease X will come. We should not be waiting for the next viral threat to emerge but should be investing in the development of novel antivirals and vaccines and diagnostics for unknown threats from priority viral families now.”
Antibiotics are also critical to pandemic preparedness—which is why we need The PASTEUR Act. We were pleased to see many Senators acknowledge the need for a robust antibiotic pipeline.
Read: Antimicrobial resistance could be the world’s next pandemic—here’s how we can help address it
The last word: “We’ve made great progress to get past COVID-19 and many people are finally starting to get back to some sense of normal,” said Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) at 00:29:20. “But we have to remember a fire is dangerous down to the last ember.” More Health Care News: Maryland Tech Council: Three Maryland Tech Council leaders named to Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s Stakeholder Council
“The Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s Stakeholder Council assists the Board in identifying whether the cost of a prescription drug creates affordability challenges for the State health care system and patients.” |
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House considers role of biotech in climate and energy solutions |
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It’s a busy day for ag biotech and bioenergy on Capitol Hill, with hearings on the role of USDA programs in addressing climate change (10 AM ET) and bioenergy R&D (10:30 AM ET)—here’s a preview. First: The House Agriculture Committee’s A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: The Role of USDA Programs in Addressing Climate Change will feature Chuck Conner, President and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (BIO’s a member).
The key message: “A farm bill centered on innovation stands to incentivize the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and practices, resulting in benefits to the environment and rural economies," says BIO's statement for the record. However, the government must provide “streamlined and expedited regulatory pathways for breakthrough technology solutions,” including “guidelines for carbon markets.”
Why? “[W]ithout clear direction from USDA on its role, it is difficult for innovators to model the environmental benefits and leverage the financial resources needed to bring critical technologies to market. Additionally, it is virtually impossible for individual farmers, ranchers, or foresters to comprehend the myriad programs in the marketplace and readily assess the impacts to their own operations,” BIO explains.
Second: The House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology Subcommittee on Energy's hearing, Bioenergy Research and Development for the Fuels and Chemicals of Tomorrow, will feature Dr. Laurel Harmon, VP of Government Affairs for BIO member LanzaTech.
The key message: “Congressional support of federal research and development of bioenergy is critical part of a larger strategy to grow the bioeconomy,” says BIO’s statement. The sector’s not only creating “sustainable, low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and products,” but also “high-paying jobs.”
The context: “As the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and confronts rising energy prices driven by conflict in Ukraine, we must invest in a sustainable and resilient economy, with innovation at its core,” says BIO—read more. |
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| Molecular biologist Dr. Elizabeth Helen Blackburn was the first Australian woman Nobel Laureate, when she received a share of the 2009 Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of the enzyme telomerase, along with her student Carol Greider.
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