Overview

• The World Health Organization's 194 member states unanimously adopted a new Pandemic Agreement during the World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 20, 2025.
• The agreement focuses on improving global pathogen surveillance, equitable access to medical countermeasures, and voluntary technology sharing.
• A Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system mandates pharmaceutical companies to allocate 20% of pandemic-related products to WHO, with half as donations and half at reduced prices.
• The treaty will enter into force 30 days after ratification by at least 60 countries, but technical details, including the PABS annex, remain under negotiation.
• The United States has opted out of the agreement and will finalize its withdrawal from the WHO in January 2026, while Germany has pledged €10 million to support WHO reforms.