Ref. Ares(2022)3545646 - 10/05/2022
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis
Brussels,
2021
Meeting with European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
European (EFPIA)
26/10/2021
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MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting:
On TRIPS waiver, EFPIA underlined that the main question in terms of COVID vaccines now
is about access and distribution given production is gearing up. Both in the short-term but also
in the medium to long-term, where there also is being developed treatments, which should
also be made broadly available. They expect 9,3 billion vaccines shots to be produced
globally at the end of October, and a total production in 2021 of 12 billion vaccines. 54% of
EU production will go to export, which indicated the EU and the pharma industries
commitments to deliver vaccines to third countries. EFPIA fully support the commitment of
the G20 of sharing vaccines. The question therefore is now not about increasing production
but to ensure distribution of the vaccines.
The intellectual property system and patents have been instrumental to channel the private
investments into the development of vaccines according to EFPIA, and it should be seen as a
prerequisite for the successful development of the four approved vaccines, with more on the
way. Likewise, there have been over 300 voluntary licensing agreements for production in
third party factories.
On the TTC, EFPIA welcomed the initiative and its establishment. They argued that the work
should include work on supply chain resilience. The way forward, inspired by the US, could
be to incentivise increased resilience in supply chains, although this should not mean
protectionist measures.
As for the trade negotiations with New Zealand, EFPIA was interested in the intellectual
property and its place in the deal. They noted that New Zealand had a much weaker system
that the EU or US, and the FTA would help to align with EU, including on the way of
calculating the patents’ duration (the 8+2+1 years).
Topics: Pharmaceutical sector – trade related issues
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
TRN:
EFPIA - 38526121292-88
Merck Group - 49654992078-52
Sanofi - 61291462764-77
Pfizer - 4263301811-33
Invitation: Ares(2021)5006294
Participants:
- EFPIA: Art. 4.1(b)
- Merck Group: Art. 4.1(b)
- Sanofi:
Art. 4.1(b)
- Pfizer :
Art. 4.1(b)
Cabinet: Art. 4.1(b)
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
