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February 15, 2022

Civil Society Groups Demand Moderna Drop Vaccine Patent Filings in South Africa
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A coalition of more than 60 African civil society groups has written an
open letter to Moderna, calling on billionaire CEO Stéphane Bancel to
immediately withdraw vaccine patents his company has filed in South
Africa. The groups say Moderna's attempt to enforce intellectual
property rights poses long-term barriers to the production of lifesaving
m RNA vaccines on the African continent. For well over a year, Moderna,
Pfizer and other drugmakers have lobbied successfully to block a waiver
on COVID vaccine patent rights at the World Trade Organization.


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