A Bad Trips?

The Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ('trips') was a mechanism put in place by the World Trade Organisation. 'Trips' has enabled large pharmaceutical companies to hang on to their patent rights (and profits) for extended periods. David Adlet and Mamka Anyona look at the application of 'trips' to vaccines for Covid-19 (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/07/biden-covid-vaccine-patents-not-enough). According to Adler and Anyona almost 60% of Americans agree the Moderna company should share its vaccine technology with manufacturers worldwide. In developing its vaccine, Moderna was supported by the US tax payer. A similar consideration applies to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which was partly funded by the UK tax payer. Most people agree that Covid-19 vaccines need to reach all parts of the world quickly, before any of us are really safe. Giving the virus further opportunities to mutate, is not a great idea. As one would predict, the Pharmacuetical Research and Manufacturers of America organisation (PhRMA) are adamant that 'trips' is essential. They argue that the possibility of getting a patent, is what drives innovative research. The US President is said to be considering asking for a temporary 'trips' waiver on US Covid-19 vaccines. This seems a 'no-brainer'. Adler and Anyona want to go further. They would like permanent abolition of 'trips' for all life-saving drugs. Adler and Anyona point out that, in earlier times, there was no blocking of antibiotic production. Antibiotics were essential for casualties of war. They also note that 'trips' has inhibited the distribution of drugs to deal with AIDS in parts of Africa. Pretty obviously, pharmaceutical companies have to have the finance and incentive to do research and development (it's a costly business). There ought, however, to be a better way of getting any resulting medical advances out there for mutual benefit! Profits shouldn't be the only consideration.