The innovative pharmaceutical industry has played and will continue to play a critical role in pandemic preparedness response. IFPMA has a strong track record as a partner contributing knowhow and exploring solutions.

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    Overview

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation, scaling manufacture, a socially responsible approach to pricing and sharing technology changed the course of pandemic in record time.

    But, despite the efforts of the global health community, equitable access to COVID-19 tools in the most vulnerable in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), was compromised. Together with global stakeholders, IFPMA and our industry are determined to accelerate equitable access to such life-saving tools in now and for future global pandemics.

    The first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use only 326 days after the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was released. This was the fastest vaccine development ever.

    Such speed of response has been key to changing the impact of COVID. Now, we can prepare to react even quicker to the next pandemic and ensure equitable access to new innovations sooner.

    With sustained political and industry leadership and collaboration, we could develop and deploy high-quality diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines in just 100 days after a new pandemic threat is identified (see Second 100 Day Mission Implementation Report).

    With sustained political and industry leadership and collaboration, we could develop and deploy high-quality diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines in just 100 days after a new pandemic threat is identified.

    The Berlin Declaration

    Drawing from lessons learned from the global response to COVID-19, IFPMA launched the Berlin Declaration.

    This sets out an approach to more equitable pandemic preparedness and response based on collaboration, commitments, and contributions across the global health community.

    Our industry’s goal is to address issues of equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics during a global pandemic. We propose reserving part of the real-time production of these medical countermeasures to distribute to vulnerable populations in LMICs.

    Looking ahead, it’s vital that countries have the technical and health infrastructure, human resources, financial capacity, and political support to successfully vaccinate, test, and provide care for their populations.

    In addition, borders between countries should be open without trade restrictions.

    Statement 19 July 2022

    Berlin Declaration: Biopharmaceutical Industry Vision for Equitable Access in Pandemics

    The innovative biopharmaceutical industry, having developed COVID-19 vaccines and treatments at record speed and in historic quantities, proposes to create a collaborative solution for more equitable rollout of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for future pandemics. In particular, the innovative biopharmaceutical industry is willing to reserve an allocation of real-time production of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics...

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    Improving pandemic response and preparedness

    With all stakeholders collaborating and playing their part, we can make sure that the efforts, investments, learnings and losses seen during COVID-19 are not in vain, but rather help shape a future where everyone is better protected from the threat of pandemics.

    Thomas Cueni

    Director General, IFPMA

    IFPMA COVID-19 Innovation Timeline

    This timeline illustrates how the innovative pharmaceutical industry came together with the broader global health community to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with unprecedented speed and scale, overcoming significant hurdles along the way.

    Statement 12 June 2021

    Industry welcomes G7 agreement to work in partnership with the private sector towards a 100 Days Mission to improve readiness for future pandemics

    At the 3 June meeting, the life science industry leaders agreed to join forces with governments to step up collective efforts to ensure the world is better prepared to tackle future global pandemics.

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    Fit-for-purpose global health architecture

    While we have been part of the largest and most rapid global vaccine rollout in history, we know that society expects us to act even faster and much more efficiently in terms of equitable rollout in the future. All stakeholders have a collective responsibility in this endeavour.

    The global health and governance community must use the lessons learned from COVID-19 and apply a forward-looking approach to designing a new global architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience (HEPR).

    This should acknowledge that a multistakeholder structure including industry, public agencies, multilateral organizations, financial institutions, governments, civil society, and philanthropic organizations is the only viable way to manage pandemics.

    The innovative pharmaceutical industry’s guiding principles for effective multilateral pandemic preparedness and response include:

    Inclusive and transparent negotiation processes

    Efficiency as the first principle of subsidiarity

    A predictable system with aligned expectations

    It’s also imperative to build on industry’s strengths when it comes to R&D, manufacturing, and distribution. This can only be achieved through a robust intellectual property system.

    Looking ahead, pathogen surveillance systems need to be pandemic ready and support pre-emptive R&D. Health systems need to be stronger and resilient so that they can rapidly absorb and deliver vaccines and medicines to those who need them. In addition, for vaccination campaigns to be successful, people need should feel confident in their governments.

    This demands a lab-to-last-mile strategy.

    Also, the world needs to show more solidarity because pandemics do not respect borders.

    Our industry proposes to create a collaborative solution for more equitable rollout of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for future pandemics. It has committed to reserve vaccines and treatments for priority populations in lower-income countries, but this will only work if countries commit to a social contract.

    We call on other stakeholders to work together with us to help make this proposal a reality and shape a future where everyone is better protected during pandemics.

    Press release 13 February 2023

    Pharma recommends five priorities for future pandemic preparedness and response

    As the global architecture for pandemic preparedness and response is discussed, IFPMA shares practical solutions and recommends focussing on five priorities.

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    Effective pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response

    The innovative pharmaceutical industry has prepared a set of principles capturing its considerations on key elements for an effective multilateral pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response instrument.

    Access to pathogens

    Immediate, unrestricted access to pathogens and their genetic information is fundamental to global health security and the crucial first step to developing the vaccines, medicines, and tests the world needs.

    The Berlin Declaration

    COVID-19 brought to light the many difficulties in achieving equitable distribution and access to related medicines and vaccines. The Berlin Declaration is IFPMA’s response to such challenges.

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