BIO Deutschland takes part in ICBA delegation to Geneva

On 2 and 3 October, a delegation of the International Council of Biotech Associations (ICBA) visited various specialised agencies of the United Nations and country representations in Geneva. Oliver Schacht, Chairman of the Board of BIO Deutschland and Chair of the ICBA, participated in the delegation along with representatives from biotech companies and from biotech associations such as the US Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the European umbrella association EuropaBio, the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) and the Swiss Biotech Association. In addition to meetings with representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), members of the delegation held talks with representatives of Brazil, the United States, Canada and the European Union. Topics discussed included the proposed expanded TRIPS waiver for therapeutics and diagnostics, the WHO’s Pandemic Preparedness Accord, and ICBA’s application to be granted “non-state actor status” at the WHO.