India Coronavirus Dispatch: Patent battles can choke Covid drugs pipeline

Efforts to avoid patent battles, a second wave in some cities, fresh research that sheds light on the virus, and more-news on how the country is coping with the pandemic

‘Patent battles could choke Covid-19 drugs pipeline’

India and South Africa are leading a call at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for intellectual property (IP) exemptions on diagnostic kits, vaccines, medicines, personal protective equipment, and ventilators required to fight Covid-19. These exemptions from the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement would mean that WTO member countries would not necessarily need to grant or enforce intellectual property rights related to Covid-19 drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and other technologies

In the context of Covid-19, intellectual property could be used adversely to cut off easy access to treatments and vaccines in developing