WHO Member States concluded the fourth round of negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS) in Geneva from 1-5 December 2025 and decided to resume negotiations from 22 January 2026 to accelerate progress in this area. PABS aims to create a global system for the fair, transparent and timely sharing of pathogen and genetic information, along with the benefits derived from their use, to improve preparedness for future pandemics. The IGWG, an intergovernmental working group, is tasked with developing the PABS annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which will be legally binding and key to ratification of the agreement. The chairmen of the negotiations emphasized the determination of the member states to find joint solutions and build a system that will be fair and beneficial for all. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the talks a generational opportunity and responsibility to reach consensus by next year's World Health Assembly. Previous informal dialogues with stakeholders, including the private sector and academia, help pave the way for further negotiations. The fifth session of the IGWG is scheduled for 9-14 February 2026.