Mr. Oliver O'Connor:

This is a matter of technology transfer and, indeed, global trading arrangements. The mRNA vaccine has been developed as a European and American innovation. The vast majority of new medicines and vaccines are developed between Europe and the US. In considering how that is playing out, one has to look at the current discussions on the Quad proposal that has been referred to, and why China is not happy with the Quad proposal because of the 10% limitation on exports. China wants access to the mRNA technology with no IP rights - completely free access. As a matter of the current global political economy and how things have developed in the past year and, indeed, in recent months, the American Government will, no doubt, consider whether it should allow American-European technology to be accessed completely free, with no IP rights, by China. This is an issue that is in play and it is not something the pharmaceutical industry can decide. It is obviously for governments to decide. This is the enterprise committee and, as we all know, it is concerned with international trade and so on and so forth. It is an important aspect of international trade and is relevant to these considerations as we see them played out at the WTO.

My colleague might like to speak about the number and availability of manufacturing sites around the world and what that represents.