Member States advanced negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Reaffirming their commitment to finalizing the Annex for its consideration by the World Health Assembly in May 2027, the PABS Annex would establish a system that ensures the rapid, transparent sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and their genetic sequence data, while ensuring rapid and equitable access to the resulting products, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, said a WHO press release.
The two-weeks long negotiations of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement reflected a strong determination among Member States to fulfill the mandate they set for themselves when adopting the Pandemic Agreement.
“During the past two weeks, government negotiators have worked tirelessly and constructively to move the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex and agenda forward,” said Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, co-chair of the IGWG Bureau guiding the negotiations.
“We have made important progress on both benefit-sharing and access provisions, while maintaining a shared focus on building a system that is practical, equitable and capable of delivering public health benefits when they are needed most,” he added.
Member states made progress on how to share benefits within a legally binding framework. Their discussions further clarified the roles of participating partners and explored how the PABS system can support more equitable access to pandemic-related health products when future threats emerge, the release added.
Member States also advanced discussions on access to pathogens with pandemic potential, including the sharing of biological materials and sequence information, while undertaking detailed consideration of the role of laboratories and other technical partners in supporting the system.
“The spirit of these discussions has been remarkably constructive. Through both formal and informal negotiations, Member States have demonstrated a strong commitment to finding common ground and refining the Annex so that we can meet the mandate entrusted to us and conclude our work by the next World Health Assembly in May 2027,” said IGWG Bureau co-chair, Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou of France.
Throughout the negotiations, WHO experts continued to support Member States with scientific, legal and operational expertise that informed discussions and pushed for progress across complex issues, it reads.
At the closing meeting, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghrebreyesus, recognized the progress of Member States in taking the PABS Annex negotiations forward, and reminded them of the importance of their work to help make the world safer from future pandemic threats.
Member States agreed to keep momentum in the coming months, including working to bring positions closer together through informal sessions.
IGWG9 will resume formal negotiations during 11-15 January 2027. Additional rounds of formal negotiations are scheduled for 15-19 February 2027 and 15-25 March 2027.
In May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement to strengthen international cooperation in preventing, preparing for and responding to pandemics. Member States also established an Intergovernmental Working Group to help advance the Agreement, including drafting and negotiating the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex, WHO said.
