The importance of protecting intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry

The first article discussed the importance of intellectual property (IP) in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in relation to COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pfizer and BioNTech, claiming that their vaccines infringed on Moderna's patents for messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. The article highlighted the controversy around IP protection in vaccines, which are seen as vital for public health. The World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement allows developing countries to authorize the use of patented materials for COVID-19 vaccines without the rights holders' consent. The outcome of these lawsuits could have far-reaching implications for the industry.