As the veil is starting to be lifted on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to our initial, very limited understanding, we are also learning how, far from viewing all of humanity as being “in this together,” pharmaceutical firms and their lobbyists view this disaster as a golden opportunity.

The vicious fights we’ve seen in the last couple of months between US states and EU member states over access to tests, ventilators, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is nothing compared to the global brawl that is emerging over patents with respect to drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines — even before they have been identified.

The tales we have heard of jurisdictions buying up drugs claimed to be effective against COVID-19 and causing worldwide shortages, of orders suddenly going missing and subsequently found to have been redirected to a wealthier buyer, of prioritization of distribution based on ability to pay rather than on need, and of profiteering that sees the price of the likes of masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer soar, is child’s play compared to the emerging wickedness of patent protection and profiteering with respect to COVID-19 drugs and potential vaccines.