Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat. Low- and middle-income countries are often hit the hardest. Photo credit: MSF/SORIYA
Letter |

Civil Society Open Letter to the Council of the European Union Concerning Transferable Exclusivity Vouchers for Antimicrobials

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TRADE
AMR_Letter_EU-TEVs_EN_05Dec2022
Report cover image
Photo credit: MSF/SORIYA

In this letter to the Council of the European Union (EU), MSF and other civil society organisations strongly urged the Council to reject a proposal by the European Commission to introduce transferable exclusivity vouchers (TEVs) for the development of new antimicrobial drugs, proposed for an upcoming revision of EU pharmaceutical legislation.* The letter also called on the Commission to identify alternative proposals with no negative impact on people’s access to medicines, and without putting the economic sustainability of national healthcare systems at risk.

*Update: on 26 April 2023, MSF responded to the European Commission’s proposal to revise the EU's pharmaceutical legislation, including citing this letter to reiterate MSF's opposition to TEVs for new antimicrobial development, as they would delay affordable generic drug production.

Read, watch, share