An initiative proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to share production methods of vaccines and therapeutic drugs to cope with the novel coronavirus worldwide under the framework of a patent pool, according to sources.
International organizations and other entities will serve as mediators of pharmaceutical companies that have patents for vaccines, so that the vaccines can be provided in large amounts at low prices.
The international organizations, major pharmaceutical companies and vaccine makers in developing countries will then widely share methods to produce the vaccines.
The Japanese government hopes that the initiative will help contain the further spread of infections with the novel coronavirus across the globe, and may help ensure the opening of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in summer 2021.
Usually, pharmaceutical companies that develop new drugs possess their patents and can produce and sell the medicines exclusively for designated lengths of time.
Other makers are not allowed to produce the medicines unless they sign licensing contracts with the patent holders and pay royalty fees.
Concerning the novel coronavirus, many pharmaceutical companies have invested huge amounts of money in the development of vaccines.
Therefore, it is feared that retail prices and patent royalties for the vaccines will be so high they will not be sufficiently available for developing countries.
Under the patent pool initiative, on the other hand, international organizations manage and protect the patents, and are mediators of the pharmaceutical companies holding the patents and other drugmakers for their licensing contracts.
The scheme has already been introduced for therapeutic drugs for AIDS and tuberculosis, where Unitaid, an international organization, serves as the mediator.
Unitaid was established in 2006 through a proposal of the French government and others. The organization has mainly conducted activities for making procuring medical products easier in developing countries.
It is likely that Unitaid will be utilized also for the patent pool initiative for vaccines against the novel coronavirus.
At a press conference in May, Abe said, "Under a highly transparent international framework, I want to make vaccines and therapeutic drugs also available to developing countries."
Abe also expressed his intention to propose the establishment of the patent pool at a summit meeting of the Group of Seven leading developed economies.
Some in the Japanese government have voiced a plan that G7 countries and others will shoulder part of the patent royalties.
However, there are hurdles to clear. If royalty fees are capped too low, pharmaceutical companies may become reluctant to participate in the patent pool initiative.
It is also uncertain whether drugmakers in developing nations have sufficient capabilities for production of the vaccines and medicines.
It seems to be necessary to consider other distribution routes, for example, in which industrialized countries will purchase large amounts of vaccines and then provide them to developing countries.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
