At the end of the 13^th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, Thomas Cueni, IFPMA Director-General said:

“After much prolonged discussion, WTO Members at the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Conference did not agree to extend the TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines to cover therapeutics and diagnostics.

“Intellectual Property is a critical enabler for the development of medicines and vaccines. It has also given companies the confidence to engage and has enabled more than 177 voluntary collaborations, including technology transfer initiatives on COVID-19 therapeutics alone.

“We encourage WTO Members to now focus on a comprehensive trade and health agenda, such as removing export restrictions, promoting trade facilitation and regulatory convergence. We look forward to continued engagement on these important issues.”

About IFPMA

IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

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