Immunization-related products: introduction to the panel discussion

Since the coming into force of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which extends intellectual property protection of pharmaceuticals for all signatories of the Uruguay Round Treaties, there has been concern that it could limit the access to new vaccines for populations in the developing world. In February 1997 the Children's Vaccine Initiative and the Rockefeller Foundation convened a meeting in Bellagio, Italy, to explore further the factors limiting global vaccine supply. The meeting included representatives from vaccine manufacturers, both commercial and local, vaccine researchers, biotechnology organizations, market analysts, and representatives of national and international public health organizations. The meeting participants concluded that although the granting of patents to protect intellectual property rights (IPRs) was essential to stimulate research and development in the field of new vaccines, there was a risk that such patents could limit access to those products in poorer markets. This risk might encourage patent infringement if the technology were seen to be essential yet inaccessible. However, the meeting participants also noted many other factors that impact vaccine availability, among them market attractiveness, and these may be even more important to access.