The world's major vaccine-producing countries are for the first time opening the door to the suspension of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines. The first was the United States, making the announcement to coincide with the recent G7 ministers' meeting in London. In a U-turn from the Trump administration and in view of the havoc the virus is wreaking in countries such as India, the US has said it supports releasing vaccine patents. This option has been debated for months at the World Trade Organization (WTO), pushed by countries such as South Africa and India. However, the Biden administration's backing gives a new dimension to the debate.