 Waivers
for vaccine production "not a solution" - BioNTech
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[April 28, 2021]
By Douglas Busvine
BERLIN (Reuters) -The granting of
intellectual property waivers is not the right way to increase output of
COVID-19 vaccines, the founder of German vaccine maker BioNTech said on
Wednesday, advocating instead the award of production licences.
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 Such waivers are among the options being considered by the Biden
administration for maximising the production and supply of vaccines,
though no decision has been made, White House press secretary Jen
Psaki said on Tuesday.
"This is not a solution," BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said.
BioNTech, which makes and markets its messenger RNA-based shot in
partnership with U.S. drugmaker Pfizer, considers close cooperation
with selected production partners to be the right approach because
its vaccine is hard to make.
"We are considering ways to issue special licences to competent
producers," Sahin told an online briefing hosted by the German
foreign correspondents' association.
This would ensure that the quality of vaccines delivered to
different regions of the world is consistent, Sahin said, adding
that production by licensees could make a contribution towards the
end of this year at the earliest.
The BioNTech/Pfizer shot has been widely administered in countries
including Israel, the United States and Britain, and is also the
lead vaccine in the European Union's inoculation campaign.
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 Sahin said it was important
that shots produced in the EU could be exported
to other parts of the world. The region could
expect to achieve herd immunity by late summer,
but it would be of little use if Europe were
safe but the virus continued to rampage
elsewhere, he added.
BioNTech expects Chinese health authorities to
approve its vaccine "by June at the latest",
Sahin told the briefing, adding it should be
possible to start distributing it there in July.
"I am optimistic that we can help the people of
China," said Sahin, describing its local
partner, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co
Ltd, as "a great company".
(Reporting by Douglas BusvineEditing by Madeline
Chambers and Gareth Jones)
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