Rethinking R&D for Pharmaceutical Products After the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Shock

Abstract

The unprecedented global health crisis caused by the coronavirus – COVID-19 – pandemic, during the first quarter of 2020, brings back with particular urgency the discussion about the research and development (R&D) model for pharmaceuticals and other health technologies. The COVID-19 crisis shows that there is an urgent need to redesign the global public health governance for health R&D. The adoption of a binding instrument – as allowed by Article 19 of the WHO Constitution – on this matter was proposed many years ago. This brief argues that it is time to revive and materialize this initiative.

Keywords: Access to Medicines, Affordable Medicines, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Diagnostics, Global Health, Health, Innovation, Intellectual Property, Pandemic, Patent, Pharmaceuticals, Public Health, Research and Development (R&D), TRIPS, Vaccines, World Health Organization (WHO)