Intellectual property and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics

As scientists and the global community continue to intensify efforts towards finding vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19, it has become important to highlight the intellectual property hurdles that must be taken into account in ensuring equitable access to affordable treatment for the infection. This article examines how intellectual property rights may impact on the clearly defined research actions for finding a solution to the pandemic and the options nations may explore in ensuring patents and patent related rights do not inhibit access to equitable treatment for COVID-19.