United States President Donald Trump has reportedly tried to lure a German medicine company, which is finding a cure for the coronavirus, to secure rights for the potential medicine exclusive for the US with a malicious intent.
The German government officials have confirmed the report of attempt of poaching of scientists by the Trump administration. Trump offered to pay a large amount of money for this purpose, a billion dollar, they said.
Karl Lauterbach, a senior German politician and professor of epidemiology, said in response to the report: “The exclusive sale of a possible vaccine to the USA must be prevented by all means. Capitalism has limits.”
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German newspaper WELT am Sonntag said the German company CureVac, which has been given this offer by the US, worked with the Germany’s government entity, Paul Ehrlich Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Medicines, for finding cure of the coronavirus.
While, the biotech company has denied the allegations of offer for its acquisition or acquisition of its technology.
The newspaper said in response the German government had offered financial incentives to the company for its stay in the country.
“The German government is very interested in ensuring that vaccines and active substances against the new coronavirus are also developed in Germany and Europe,” the newspaper quoted a Health Ministry official as saying.
“In this regard, the government is in intensive exchange with the company CureVac.”
In a separate statement, the health ministry told Reuters that the WELT am Sonntag report was accurate: “We confirm the report in the WELT am Sonntag,” a spokesperson said.
