The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) said it welcomes the outcome of the WHO Open-Ended Working Group of Member States on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (OEWG/PIP). The Working Group has reached a decision that will result in an effective global system to prepare for potential future influenza pandemics, recognizing a shared responsibility to help secure the world against future pandemic influenza outbreaks. The IFPMA supports the reported principles of the decision, and awaits with interest the final report of the OEWG/PIP in order to comment on the detail of the framework. It will be crucial to have a system that allows for rapid access to pandemic viruses and for benefits to be allocated to those countries most in need….”
“…IFPMA members made a commitment to the OEWG to ensure that vaccines and antivirals are made available for developing country use in the event of a future pandemic, pledging to:
– reserve at least 10% of pandemic vaccine manufacturing capacity on a real-time basis, for donation to the WHO and/or supply at tiered prices, to developing countries;
– reserve at least 10% of antiviral manufacturing capacity for donation to the WHO and/or supply at tiered prices to developing countries.
“In addition, IFPMA members recognised the importance of local production of vaccines and antivirals in pandemic preparedness. Many research-based pharmaceutical companies are already investing in establishing manufacturing in several countries (Mexico, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Thailand) and funding significant capacity increases in developed countries – also to enable developing country supply. IFPMA members have given assurances to the OEWG/PIP that they will continue to explore such opportunities.

“During the OEWG/PIP consultations, individual IFPMA members confirmed that they were also willing to undertake voluntarily a selection of actions, including production capacity expansion and access to reverse genetics technology, dependent upon skills, knowledge, financial management, public health policy and national regulation.
“It would appear that the OEWG/PIP’s approach to intellectual property rights is in line with WHO reports that have concluded that IPRs have presented no barrier to supply of vaccines and antivirals to developing countries. IFPMA members will continue to ensure that intellectual property rights do not present a barrier at the next pandemic. The IFPMA gave the Working Group assurances that their members were prepared to consider, when appropriate, flexible approaches to meet this goal.
“The commitments tabled at the OEWG/PIP by IFPMA members have considerable monetary value and represent a highly significant contribution to global preparedness for a future pandemic. “It is important that they are built upon with proportionate action by other stakeholders. We believe that national governments should play a crucial role in ensuring vaccines reach their populations, including immunization policy of seasonal influenza as advised by the WHO” said Eduardo Pisani, adding “This would need to be accompanied by regulatory procedures, country surveillance, health system infrastructure, and rules for transfer of viruses to build on the significant contributions to the global pandemic made by IFPMA members.”
http://www.ifpma.org/News/NewsReleaseDetail.aspx?nID=13824