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In an overwhelming vote, the European Parliament late last week agreed to support a World Health Organization initiative to create a Technology Access Pool, which would collect patent rights, regulatory test data, and other information that could be shared for developing drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to combat Covid-19.

The move adds pressure on the European Commission and member states to embrace the effort, which was launched in May in response to concerns that some Covid-19 medical products may not be accessible for poor populations, in any country. By establishing a voluntary mechanism under WHO auspices, the goal is to create a pathway to attract governments, industry, universities and nonprofit organizations.

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So far, though, the pharmaceutical industry has eschewed the idea, prompting the parliament to adopt the resolution, which would permit the use of compulsory licenses. Under world trade rules, a country may grant a license to a public agency or a generic drug maker, allowing it to copy a patented medicine without the consent of the brand-name company that owns the patent.

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