All you need to know about the battle over COVID jab IP rights

In a potentially pivotal move, the US has offered backing for a global waiver on patent protections for coronavirus vaccines.

In a break from longstanding US policy, President Joe Biden’s administration has backed a proposal that would temporarily lift intellectual property (IP) rights for COVID-19 vaccines. The “monumental” decision, as described by the World Health Organization’s chief, raised hopes for developing nations struggling for doses but was met with anger from the pharmaceutical industry. If approved, the waiver would theoretically allow drugmakers around the world to produce coronavirus jabs without the risk of being sued for breaking IP rules. Lengthy negotiations are expected before a consensus can be reached at the World Trade Organization (WTO).