Pfizer pledges increased access to patented drugs to low-income nations
Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo lauded Pfizer’s initiative
• Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo lauded Pfizer’s initiative
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) said that it would supply all its current and future patent-protected medicines and vaccines on a not-for-profit basis to 45 lower-income countries and is talking to other big drug makers about similar steps.
Pfizer launched its Accord For a Healthier World, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, pledging to increase access to its patented medicines and vaccines for 1.2 billion people living in 45 lower-income countries.
“We are living in a time where science is increasingly demonstrating the ability to take on the world’s most devastating diseases. Unfortunately, there exists a tremendous health equity gap in our world that determines which of us can use these innovations and which of us cannot,” said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
Gina Raimondo lauds initiative
Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo lauded Pfizer’s initiative and said, “Expanding global access to high-quality medicines and vaccines will require ongoing efforts from governmental and private sector leaders across the world.”
She pointed towards the challenges highlighted during the pandemic, and added, “Its clear that governments alone cannot address all the health challenges we face. Through Pfizer's work to close health outcome gaps and create global access to vaccines, we'll make strides toward essential components that can help us address many of the inequalities we face and ensure we come out of the pandemic stronger than before.”
Source: Department of Commerce
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