PLAN TO SHARE VACCINE DATA ‘NONSENSE’: DRUG FIRMS

Pharmaceutical companies have dismissed as “nonsense” a voluntary scheme to share information, including trial data and patent rights, to develop and distribute coronavirus treatments, vaccines and diagnostics.

The initiative, which was launched by the World Health Organization Friday, was proposed to lower production costs, accelerate manufacturing and increase global access to medical supplies. There are growing concerns that nationalism may hamper global co-operation and trigger bidding wars and shortages.

While some pharmaceutical giants said they support efforts to ensure “equitable distribution” of vaccines and treatments, their executives condemned the concept of intellectual property pools.