Open letter to leaders of G7, G20, BRICS and all nations on finalizing the WHO Pandemic Agreement’s Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex

An open letter signed by individuals from Geneva and Brasilia urged leaders of the G7, G20, BRICS, and all nations to finalize the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex of the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement. The letter highlights the devastating impact of the recent pandemic, which resulted in up to twenty million lives lost according to WHO estimates, and emphasizes the global promise made to prevent future unpreparedness. Adopted just over a year ago, the WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a commitment to international cooperation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to pandemics. The signatories stress that the PABS annex is the crucial final component needed to ensure timely responses to future pandemics. This annex is designed to facilitate the rapid identification of pathogens with pandemic potential and the sharing of their genetic information and materials. Such sharing is essential for scientists to develop critical tools, including tests, treatments, and vaccines, which ultimately determine survival rates. Without the finalized PABS annex, the collective efforts and lessons learned from COVID-19 through the WHO and its member states remain incomplete.