GENEVA: WTO member states on Friday agreed a narrow measure aimed at boosting the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries over corporate patent rights governing critical medical products during a pandemic. Wraps up a bitter fight.
The compromise measure on intellectual property rights would make it easier for companies in developing countries like South Africa to manufacture and export a patented COVID-19 vaccine – in limited circumstances – without the consent of the patent holder if they have the approval of their own governments.