Virus Sharing, Genetic Sequencing, and Global Health Security

Science, pp. 1295-1296, September 2014

3 Pages Posted: 21 Sep 2014

See all articles by Lawrence O. Gostin

Lawrence O. Gostin

Georgetown University - Law Center - O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law

Alexandra Phelan

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

­Michael A. Stoto

Georgetown University; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

John Kraemer

Georgetown University Law Center; Georgetown University - School of Nursing & Health Studies

K. Reddy

Public Health Foundation of India

Date Written: September 12, 2014

Abstract

The WHO’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework was a milestone global agreement designed to promote the international sharing of biological samples to develop vaccines, while that ensuring poorer countries would have access to those vaccines. Since the PIP Framework was negotiated, scientists have developed the capacity to use genetic sequencing data (GSD) to develop synthetic viruses rapidly for product development of life-saving technologies in a time-sensitive global emergency – threatening to unravel the Framework. Access to GSD may also have major implications for biosecurity, biosafety, and intellectual property (IP).

By rendering the physical transfer of viruses antiquated, GSD may also undermine the effectiveness of the PIP Framework itself, with disproportionate impacts on poorer countries. We examine the changes that need to be made to the PIP Framework to address the growing likelihood that GSD might be shared instead of physical virus samples. We also propose that the international community harness this opportunity to expand the scope of the PIP Framework beyond only influenza viruses with pandemic potential.

In light of non-influenza pandemic threats such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Ebola, we call for an international agreement on the sharing of the benefits of research – such as vaccines and treatments – for other infectious diseases to ensure not only a more secure and healthy world, but also a more just world, for humanity.

Keywords: global health, genetic sequencing, virus sharing, influenza, global health security

JEL Classification: K00, K30, K39

Suggested Citation

Gostin, Lawrence O. and Phelan, Alexandra and Stoto, ­Michael A. and Kraemer, John and Reddy, K., Virus Sharing, Genetic Sequencing, and Global Health Security (September 12, 2014). Science, pp. 1295-1296, September 2014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2497482

Lawrence O. Gostin (Contact Author)

Georgetown University - Law Center - O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law ( email )

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Alexandra Phelan

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health ( email )

Baltimore, MD
United States

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security ( email )

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­Michael A. Stoto

Georgetown University ( email )

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Washington, DC 20057
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HOME PAGE: http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/stotom

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Boston, MA
United States

John Kraemer

Georgetown University Law Center ( email )

600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
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United States

Georgetown University - School of Nursing & Health Studies ( email )

3700 Reservoir Road
Washington, DC 20057-1107
United States

K. Reddy

Public Health Foundation of India ( email )

4 Institutional Area
Vasant Kunj
New Delhi, Delhi 110070
India

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