Berlin (Web Desk): Germany’s foreign minister has said that the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale.
The comments made in an interview to media group Funke come after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to a potential vaccine developed by a German biotech firm.
German scientists raced to develop a vaccine against the deadly coronavirus that has killed some 6,000 people, seen millions placed under lockdown and devastated global markets.
"German researchers play a leading role in drug and vaccine development and we cannot allow others to seek exclusive results," Heiko Maas told Funke.
"Germany is not for sale," economy minister Peter Altmaier told broadcaster ARD on Sunday, reacting to the report. At a news conference, interior minister Horst Seehofer was asked to confirm the attempts to court the German company.
"I can only say that I have heard several times today from government officials today that this is the case, and we will be discussing it in the crisis committee tomorrow," he said.