Covid-19: India in favor of the lifting of patents on vaccines

India is the world's largest maker of generic drugs and is expected to be the second-largest producer of Covid-19 vaccines this year.

But the bulk of the doses come from one company, Serum Institute of India, which produces AstraZeneca's vaccine under license. If the patents are lifted, many more companies are expected to jump in.

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As might be expected, India has reacted favorably to the possibility of temporarily lifting the patents protecting vaccines against Covid-19.

It is this country which, along with South Africa, made this request in October before the World Trade Organization.

India is one of the largest producers of generic drugs and vaccines in the world, but even if the lifting of patents does happen, it will take time for it to take effect in the country.

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With our correspondent in New Delhi

,

Sébastien Farcis

India is the world's largest maker of generic drugs and is expected to be the second-largest producer of Covid-19 vaccines this year.

But most of the doses come from a single company,

Serum Institute of India

, which produces AstraZeneca's vaccine under license.

If the

patents are lifted

, many more companies are expected to jump in.

The capacities are there: as proof, Indian manufacturers recently signed agreements to produce the vaccines of Johnson & Johnson and Sputnik V, also under license.

However, the launch of the unlicensed manufacture will take many months, and the inventor laboratories will also have to share certain know-how and technologies to accelerate this transition.

India was to be the first manufacturer of doses for African countries, through the

Covax program

, but in the face of the violent

second wave hitting the country

, New Delhi has stopped exports to speed up its national vaccination program.

It is China and Russia who are therefore rushing to the aid of the continent.

To read: Covid-19: the Covax initiative seeking funding for more vaccines

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  • India

  • Coronavirus

  • Vaccines

  • Health and medicine

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