Etienne Billette de Villemeur

A new UN-backed initiative is enabling qualified generic manufacturers to develop, produce and supply vital medicines such as antivirals independently. By reducing the cost of essential medicines, pooled licensing particularly benefits low- and middle-income countries, in sub-Saharan Africa, for instance. Maxim Studio/Shutterstock (no reuse)

August 17, 2026

The Medicines Patent Pool is improving access to essential medication where it’s most needed, but does it make economic sense?

Bruno Versaevel, EM Lyon Business School; Etienne Billette de Villemeur, Université de Lille, and Vianney Dequiedt, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)

Three economists explore the viability of a UN-backed one-stop licensing ‘hub’ for making essential, often life-saving biotherapeutics and vaccines both affordable and more widely available.

At the end of 2020, India applied to the WTO for a temporary suspension of intellectual property rights related to Covid-19. Sanjay Kanojia/AFP

April 25, 2021

Intellectual property and Covid‑19: how can we accelerate vaccination globally?

Etienne Billette de Villemeur, Université de Lille; Bruno Versaevel, EM Lyon Business School, and Vianney Dequiedt, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)

Licensing agreements between pharmaceutical companies and the Medicines Patent Pool, in cooperation with the WHO, could accelerate access to doses for the poorest countries.

Fin 2020, l’Inde a demandé à l’OMC une suspension temporaire de droits de propriété intellectuelle relative à la Covid-19. Sanjay Kanojia/AFP

April 20, 2021

Propriété intellectuelle et Covid‑19 : comment accélérer mondialement la vaccination ?

Etienne Billette de Villemeur, Université de Lille; Bruno Versaevel, EM Lyon Business School, and Vianney Dequiedt, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)

Des accords de licence entre les groupes pharmaceutiques et le Medicines Patent Pool, en coopération avec l’OMS, pourraient accélérer l’accès aux doses pour les pays les plus pauvres.