Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for IP Licensing Practices in Vaccine Production

An international team of researchers will work on identifying solutions to the complex question of how best to scale up vaccine manufacturing and supply of vaccines, while at the same time improving access and affordability.

The project Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for IP Licensing Practices in Vaccine Production will draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing the role of IP licensing practices in the production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, with a particular focus on patents, know-how, trade secrets and regulatory data.

By examining the impact of these practices on vaccine production and supply, the research aims to contribute positively to the ongoing policy debate about pandemic preparedness and response, both at the G7 and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Commenting on the award, Principal Investigator Professor Duncan Matthews (Queen Mary University of London) said: “We are honoured to have received this funding from the British Academy for this timely and important research. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, innovative vaccines were manufactured and supplied at unprecedented speed. IP licensing practices played a critical role in this success, but IP also sometimes contributed to failures, blocking access to vaccines internationally. This research project is an important opportunity to learn lessons from the role that IP played in the COVID-19 response and to contribute positively to pandemic preparedness in the future”.

External researchers

Name	Title / Institution	Photo
Matthews, Duncan	PI Professor, Queen Mary University of London
Shadlen, Ken	Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science
Zemła-Pacud, Żaneta	Dr., Polish Academy of Sciences
Van Zimmeren, Esther	Professor, University of Antwerp