FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 1, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – We Work For Health Executive Director Dan Leonard has issued the following statement in response to the U.S. International Trade Commission report on TRIPS Waiver expansion:
“The United States is the leader in life sciences innovation. This is not by mistake. This is the result of years of investments and hard work from scientists and companies that have repeatedly delivered life-saving medicines, cures and treatments to patients both in the United States and around the world. Public policy decisions are critical to maintaining an environment that allows those same companies and scientists to maintain the U.S. leadership position. That leadership position delivered vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 in record time, is making enormous strides in cancer treatments and is on the cusp of life-changing developments in gene and cell therapies.
“But public policy decisions continue to threaten our leadership position. If the TRIPS Waiver is expanded, and intellectual property protections are weakened, the U.S. won’t be in position to respond so successfully and swiftly to the next public health crisis. The Biden Administration must support policies that promote America’s status as the global leader in life science innovation and keep hundreds of thousands of industry jobs at home. Relaxing IP rights will disincentivize vital health care investments and ultimately harm patients who rely on America’s novel medical discoveries and manufacturing capabilities.”
About We Work For Health
Since 2007, We Work For Health (WWFH) has been bringing together national and local business leaders, labor, biopharma, patient advocacy, and other healthcare-related stakeholders. WWFH is dedicated to promoting policies and initiatives that not only foster innovation and facilitate the delivery of lifesaving or life-enhancing medicines, but also value both the workforce and significant contributions of the biopharmaceutical sector to economies at the national, state, and local levels.
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