"Patents are not the factor limiting the production or supply of our vaccine," BioNTech laboratory told AFP after the United States declared itself in favor of the lifting of patents to speed up production and distribution of doses worldwide.
The German laboratory BioNTech estimated Thursday that patent protection on anti-Covid vaccines was not the factor limiting the production and supply of its vaccine developed with the American Pfizer.
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"One year" to set up production sites
"Patents are not the factor limiting the production or supply of our vaccine," the laboratory told AFP after the United States declared itself in favor of lifting patents to speed up production and distribution. of doses in the world. For BioNTech, such a measure would have no "short and medium term" effect. "Experts have already pointed out that setting up and validating new production sites generally takes a year," he argues.
In addition, the production of messenger RNA vaccine, like the one developed by BioNTech and the American Pfizer, "is a complex process developed over more than a decade. All the steps must be defined and carried out precisely", by "experienced staff", he explained in particular.
If all the requirements are not met, the quality and efficacy of the vaccine could be affected.
"This could put the health of vaccinated people at risk."
Up to 3 billion doses expected this year
BioNTech, which expected 2021 to manufacture up to 2.5 billion doses of its vaccine, says it now "has the capacity" to produce up to 3 billion doses this year and more than 3 billion next year . On the territory of the EU, two factories, in Belgium and in Germany, are the central platforms for the manufacture of doses of messenger RNA serum. The laboratory favors technology transfers and the issuance of targeted licenses to increase the production of its vaccine, he reiterated, stressing that he is in close collaboration with more than 15 partners, including Merck, Novartis Sanofi and Baxter.
The administration of US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday supporting the idea of lifting patents on vaccines, specifying that Washington was "actively" participating in negotiations to this effect at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The European Union said itself Thursday "ready to discuss" a lifting of patents, a subject which will be invited to the summit of the 27 in Porto on Friday, while showing itself skeptical about the effectiveness of a such a measure to accelerate global vaccination.