Getting to a meaningful agreement: ML&P’s opening statement to the 12th round of pandemic accord negotiations

This statement was delivered on 4 November 2024 to the 12th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB12) to draft and negotiate a World Health Organization convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to address the opening session of the INB12.

We would like to make the following points:

A pandemic agreement will only be meaningful if its provisions contribute to changing the status quo. This is particularly important to ensure equity in access to pandemic products. The text before us does not meet this requirement and will need strengthening in the area of pathogen access and benefit sharing and access to and sharing of IP and know-how, including undisclosed information.

Equitable access will also require expanding production capacity in various regions of the world to be ready well before the next pandemic and this requires transfer of technology, know-how and IP.

Ensuring technology transfer for pandemic response should be a firm commitment by governments and not only be left to the willingness of commercial companies who are often reluctant to share their know-how.

Pandemic products are often developed with considerable financial contributions by the public sector which provides opportunities to attach conditions that will ensure that IP and know-how developed with public financing – whether owned by governments or not – is shared for the common global good.

Also for the purpose of expanding manufacturing capacity it is important to provide political and financial support to IP pooling mechanisms.

See more Medicines Law & Policy resources on the pandemic accord here.

Avatar photo
+ posts

Medicines Law & Policy brings together legal and policy experts in the field of access to medicines, international law, and public health. We provide policy and legal analysis, best practice models and other information that can be used by governments, non-governmental organisations, product development initiatives, funding agencies, UN agencies and others working to ensure the availability of effective, safe and affordable medicines for all.

Newsletter

Never miss a post! Sign up for ML&P's newsletter.

Recent Articles

FDA approval of injectable lenacapavir for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) opens the road to ending HIV

On 18th June 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of long-acting antiretroviral medicine lenacapavir (LEN-LA), for the prevention of...

Transfer of technology and know-how for the production of pandemic-related health products in the WHO Pandemic Agreement: The proverbial half glass 

A version of this brief was published on 13 June '25 by the Graduate Institute as part of their 'Governing Pandemic Snapshot' series: https://www.governingpandemics.org/gp-snapshot During...

The People vs. AbbVie

Today, 9 May 2025, is an important day in court for the Dutch Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation (PAF). In February 2023, PAF started a court...

The Pandemic Agreement is here

In December 2021, the member states of the World Health Organization decided “to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument...

Expanding local production is essential for pandemic preparedness. It requires, however, transfer of technology.

Madam co-chairs, delegates,  This very week, from 7 to 9 April the 3rd World Local Production Forum is taking place in Abu Dhabi. Actions towards...

Related Articles