The German government has accused the United States of seeking to seize a new vaccine project against the Corona virus (Covid 19) developed by a German laboratory, warning that it will do everything in its power for the project to succeed in Europe.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview published by the local media group "Funke" yesterday that "German researchers play an essential role in developing drugs and vaccines, and we cannot allow others to seek exclusive possession of their results."
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer confirmed, yesterday evening, the correctness of information published by the German newspaper "Die Welt" about an attempt by US President Donald Trump to put his hand on the German laboratory by offering him a huge sum of money.
Seehofer said during a press conference: "All I can say is that I have heard repeatedly from members of the government that this is true," and stated that the issue will be discussed yesterday, within the governmental "crisis committee" charged with overseeing the fight against the spread of the emerging corona virus that has caused so far In Germany, there are 5,000 injuries and 12 deaths.
The strength test between the United States and Germany revolves around the CureFac laboratory in Tübingen, in the southwest, and is one of the laboratories in the world to develop a vaccine against the Corona virus (Covid 19), benefiting from aid from the German government.
The laboratory company confirms that only a few months separate it from offering a vaccine project for clinical approval.
The German newspaper said, Trump is seeking to attract German scientists working on the vaccine project by offering millions of dollars to them or to obtain the vaccine exclusivity by investing in the company.
A source close to the German government told the newspaper, "The vaccine will be in this case for the United States alone."
In response to questions from Agence France-Presse, a representative of the US government saw that this case “has a lot of exaggeration” and said, asking not to reveal his name, that Washington had spoken with more than 25 drug laboratories, and stressed that «any solution that might be reached To him it will be shared with the rest of the world. ”
The Chairman of the German company received a personal invitation from the American President to visit the White House on March 3, to discuss developing a vaccine against the newly emerging corona virus, and Cure Vac announced a week after the sudden departure of its chairman without giving any reasons for that.
German Economy Minister Peter Altmire praised the decision, which he described as "excellent" by CureFac by rejecting Washington's offers.
The head of the German Free Democratic Party, Christian Lindner, pointed the finger directly at Trump, saying: "It is clear that all means are available to the American president during the election period." .
The project has only a few months to obtain clinical approval.