Overview

• The inaugural IGWG session on July 9–10 adopted its working methods, activity timeline and stakeholder engagement framework for treaty implementation.
• Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes and UK’s Matthew Harpur were elected co-chairs of the IGWG bureau alongside newly named vice-chairs to steer negotiations.
• Work officially commenced on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex to ensure transparent, accountable sharing of pathogen materials and sequence data.
• Delegates agreed to prepare for the inaugural Conference of the Parties to the Pandemic Agreement and to develop terms of reference for a Coordinating Financial Mechanism.
• An informal expert briefing will precede the second IGWG meeting, scheduled for September 15–19, 2025, ahead of the PABS annex’s submission to the 79th World Health Assembly.