This webinar has been moderated by Professor Timo Minssen.
Recent months have seen intensified global calls for an intellectual property waiver of COVID-19 related vaccines, treatments and related products. The proposal for a TRIPS waiver, made initially by India and South Africa last October, received additional impetus in May when U.S announced its initial support of the waiver and the text-based negotiations at WTO TRIPS Council. In light of these developments, this webinar addressed the ongoing debates whether a waiver is the most effective and sustainable remedy in order to facilitate affordable access and promote production capacity, or if there is reason to consider other options. The project aims to create a neutral platform that allows for well-informed debates on crucial issues in pharmaceutical innovation. Focus is on creating an inclusive platform to accommodate stakeholders with different opinions and perspectives. The project runs between April 2021 and April 2023. The webinar series is a joint collaboration between The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) and Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen.