U.S. Buying Into Covid Patent Waiver ‘Delusion,’ Critics Say

A global plan to ignore drugmaker intellectual property rights over Covid-19 vaccine production may have severe consequences on drug investments for pandemic purposes and beyond, according to critics of a pitch backed by the U.S. and other major players before the World Trade Organization.

Since late 2020, South Africa and India have pushed WTO nations to allow third-party manufacturers to replicate IP-protected Covid-19 vaccines and treatments for global use. The U.S. and European Union this week agreed to a trimmed down version of the plan, setting the stage for a WTO vote that industry groups and IP advocates say sets ...