Global health advocates say Moderna has a special obligation to share its technology because its vaccine relies on technology developed by the National Institutes of Health, and because the company $2.5 billion approved from the federal government as part of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s fast-track vaccine initiative.
Colleen Hussey, a spokeswoman for Moderna, said in an email message Tuesday night that the company agreed not to enforce its COVID-related patents and to “preserve our intellectual property for COVID-19 vaccines for the post-pandemic period.” Had happened. Was willing to give licenses to others.
But advocates say the world needs Moderna’s information now – not after the pandemic is over.
Alain Al Salhani, a vaccine specialist at Doctors Without Borders, said sharing a vaccine “recipe” is an important first step, but it is not enough to allow a quick and efficient set-up of new mRNA manufacturing sites. Campaign for Medicines.
“You need someone to share with you the whole process, because it’s a new technology,” he said. “One of the problems we face is that the scientific literature about industrial-scale manufacturing of mRNA vaccines is so thin. So it’s not just about a recipe, it’s about an active and complete technology transfer. is in.”
Pfizer said in an emailed statement that it and its partner BioNTech have signed the letter of intent. announced Last month, along with South African biopharmaceutical company Biovac, which is part of a South African hub to make Pfizer vaccines for African countries. But Biovac will only bottle the vaccine, which does not require sharing of formula. The actual “pharmaceutical substance” will be made in Europe.
In the absence of voluntary cooperation from companies, some legal experts and global health advocates say the Biden administration may be trying to force them to share their intellectual property by using the powers of the Defense Production Act, 1950 law, which the President gives broad power over the US. companies in emergency situations.
Lawrence O., a public health law specialist at Georgetown University. Gostin said Mr Biden could declare the pandemic a threat to national security, which would require him to “sign technology transfer contracts to companies in exchange for reasonable compensation”. federal government or manufacturing partner.