Public health leaders urge U.S. government to use mRNA patent to share Covid vaccine with the world

A letter signed by public health leaders including CUNY SPH Dean Ayman El-Mohandes urges the U.S. government to use the forthcoming patent for the  technology used (mRNA-1273) in the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine as a policy tool to increase global access to the lifesaving technology.

The patent covers crucial spike-protein technology developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which has been used in five major Covid vaccines that employ mRNA-1273.

The authors urge the NIH to include provisions in the licensing agreement to empower the U.S. government to authorize manufacturing of mRNA-1273, require technology sharing with the World Health Organization to help ramp up global production, and to include requirements for accessible pricing universally.

“U.S. taxpayers have invested over $2.5 billion in the development of mRNA-1273,” the authors write. “Now it is time for our government to ensure that this critical lifesaving technology be made available to all.”

Read the full letter here.