WHO Pandemic Treaty Talks Resume Amid Tight Deadline

Pathogen data sharing, access equity pose key challenges.

Negotiations for a crucial annex to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pandemic agreement are set to restart Wednesday, July 9, focusing on equitable pathogen data sharing amidst intellectual property concerns.

Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing

The Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) will focus on a pathogen access and benefit sharing (PABS) system. The system aims to ensure transparent and accountable sharing of information regarding pathogens that have pandemic potential. It will also define how those sharing this information will benefit from resulting medical products.

According to **Steven Solomon**, a WHO legal officer, the PABS annex must be finalized by April 17, 2026, for submission to the World Health Assembly in May 2026.

The IGWG has just over nine months to complete this work.

Tensions Over Access and IP

The agreement faces hurdles due to tensions between pharmaceutical companies’ intellectual property rights and ensuring broad access to affordable medical products. The IGWG will also lay the groundwork for the Conference of the Parties that will govern the pandemic agreement, and the terms of reference for a coordinating financial mechanism designed to protect countries against outbreaks.

This week’s agenda includes electing officials, setting timelines, and defining engagement methods with relevant stakeholders. The election will include two co-chairs and four vice-chairs representing the six WHO regions. As with the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), the co-chairs should represent both developed and developing nations.

Key Personnel

**Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes**, Brazil’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and **Dr Mathew Harpur**, UK Deputy Director for Multilateral and G7/G20 Engagement for the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care, are leading candidates for co-chair positions.

The INB co-chairs, **Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou** of France and **Precious Matsoso** of South Africa, are handing over leadership, though the pandemic agreement they managed includes a PABS system outline.

Addressing a recent meeting in Geneva, **Amprou** stated that preparations for implementing the pandemic agreement should commence ASAP, alongside annex negotiations.

**Amprou** suggested a concise annex, advocating for a more technical than political negotiation, given the well-known political stances of member states.

Open IGWG sessions, mirroring INB meetings, will be webcast, allowing stakeholders in official relations with the WHO to attend and contribute at designated times. As of July 2025, global health spending reached $8.3 trillion, highlighting the scale of resources at stake in these negotiations (WHO).