Benefit-Sharing Programs
Successful together
Building reciprocity into the genomic research relationship.
![Man and child on a river bank](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/Ethical_approach_successful.jpg?w=980&h=735&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1685030115&s=544db055120cea8c1ac85ee38bf6c9e0 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/Ethical_approach_successful.jpg?w=768&h=576&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1685030115&s=6e793d2805acc3ca7e5b487c6b5e0567 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/Ethical_approach_successful.jpg?w=640&h=480&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1685030115&s=a0221e19260525bffb67c3ee108b1695 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/Ethical_approach_successful.jpg?w=480&h=360&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1685030115&s=9a2c8eab6b2d39489d72ad006a10c68f 480w)
Benefit-Sharing Pledge
Variant Bio is committed to sharing tangible benefits with research partners, both in the short and long term. For details, refer to our formal Benefit-Sharing Pledge, or this pledge summary.
- In the short term, benefits can include support for local healthcare, environment, education, and culture.
- In the long term, Variant Bio will share 4% of revenue plus 4% of our equity value with partner communities that have shared their DNA and health information with us.
![Various bottles and other medicinal products displayed on a store shelf.](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=1536&h=1154&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=0ac89d0724d665eba34646957bfc6df1 1536w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=1376&h=1034&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=b2a795994e2e60e3cedebf1803a740ae 1376w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=1280&h=962&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=45f4c42cac794bc4cf8712b8f952cc67 1280w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=980&h=736&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=dc3a4d5a61ded6db2fd0967a053b441c 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=768&h=577&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=3cbffbcf6748fd66366be850f43daf7f 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=640&h=481&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=479f2e036ef1b184e939f4c7cdb3ad6f 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/bottles-shelf.jpg?w=480&h=360&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1683144874&s=1d2d27449c3b0343a2d127bbcd50fce5 480w)
Affordable Medicines Pledge
Variant Bio will aim to make any medicines or other products it develops available at an affordable price to the communities whose participation led to those discoveries. For details, refer to our formal Affordable Medicines Pledge, or this summary of it.
Examples of short-term benefit sharing
![An amphitheater-style classroom full of smiling faces, about 100 people](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=1536&h=603&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=48304b9d69326b758dbc807eb8bf0ba0 1536w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=1376&h=540&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=fcba8e001fdf891b303a833034c7cf18 1376w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=1280&h=503&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=fb04068e7f905d24cf1169eac833a5bf 1280w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=980&h=385&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=f2e50b1159d23f8d267974e056764463 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=768&h=301&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=e2426485a999fab2b960bc981f0508fa 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=640&h=251&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=19cb7f5083d104707ffb66031960ce29 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/SING2020.webp?w=480&h=188&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880253&s=88d1e3dba8ca264c2d15f49bb5847c2e 480w)
Variant Bio supported SING 2020, the first Indigenous Genomics Conference, which took place at the University of Waikato; a scholarship program at the Pukapuka Community Center; a Te Whānau o Waipareira-led initiative designed to empower whānau (which roughly translates to “families”) to build capacity in order to flourish and to reach their own aspirations; two community initiatives hosted by the Pacific Scientist and Community Network (PSCN) and the Tongan Health Society (THS), the inaugural Pacific Peoples Fono and the first strategic planning session for a Pacific Summer Internship for Indigenous Genetics (SING); and a STEM scholarship program and community projects through Pacific Trust Otago.
![Closeup of a hand with a tattoo and a bracelet, holding a piece of paper that says Variant Bio. The outline of a woman in the background](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/French-Polynesia.jpeg?w=1376&h=726&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880520&s=e5fa3ad1b0b0e97e72c721b8dbbf551a 1376w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/French-Polynesia.jpeg?w=1280&h=675&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880520&s=432fb36e0f750e5057823f26629e170f 1280w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/French-Polynesia.jpeg?w=980&h=517&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880520&s=4eed256a7ed88a7ac4b0cf2182c68035 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/French-Polynesia.jpeg?w=768&h=405&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880520&s=569fd1c865b411258925157ae6332c53 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/French-Polynesia.jpeg?w=640&h=337&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880520&s=cfe491f98069d0e846fa14128252c98e 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/French-Polynesia.jpeg?w=480&h=253&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880520&s=31e7f9769f00ec156310f3d615187b87 480w)
Variant Bio supported organizations whose programs will impact communities living throughout French Polynesia’s five archipelagos — the Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Austral Islands. Their focus areas range from championing Polynesian culture and history to promoting environmental awareness, health, and biodiversity.
![](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/madagascar.webp?w=980&h=594&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1691151936&s=025cc772ab2591767a8453ced4843905 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/madagascar.webp?w=768&h=466&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1691151936&s=9fc91cdda8960291b706c7b70d81c7cb 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/madagascar.webp?w=640&h=388&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1691151936&s=55739867ddb762ccb9b7e22c3e91b24a 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/madagascar.webp?w=480&h=291&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1691151936&s=0845e678a4508b655f83a81c4471ce2d 480w)
Variant Bio gave funds to rebuild a water pump in Tsianaloka Village on the West Coast, to buy roofing materials for a new high school going up soon in Tsiandatsiana Village in the Southern Highlands, and to provide a new roof and cement for a school in Ampandrialaza Village in the Central Highlands of Madagascar.
![Seven people smiling, standing in front of a set of green water tanks](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=1536&h=1024&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=35697d7c133f194c67d9f3404cfe801b 1536w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=1376&h=917&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=16dbe36ecae2917b660fa2b3f2e392d0 1376w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=1280&h=853&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=f2af637b3982a9a907b7604923cd4aff 1280w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=980&h=653&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=c4dd50ed7150476bfbc91cd2525c7d80 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=768&h=512&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=1aaa15f29a8ea413ac5a6a2ed667c811 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=640&h=426&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=af4a47ec3033b71c5035413aa51eefd0 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/south-africa-22_2023-07-26-212520_lawz.png?w=480&h=320&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880551&s=43cebe07ff07fbc700cf23e2dab59037 480w)
Variant Bio supported the purchase of 55 JoJos (water tanks) to improve access to clean water across 31 villages in Agincourt, South Africa. These tanks each hold up to 5,000 liters of water and were distributed in person to the different villages over the course of three weeks by public engagement officer Simon Khoza.
![In the foreground, a man in a winter hat and a flannel shirt puts his hands together. There are two people behind him](https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/South-Africa-2-Benefit-Sharing-TinyPNG.png?w=1376&h=920&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880376&s=86e6f5c57b8ae347c9e4b913f24205c4 1376w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/South-Africa-2-Benefit-Sharing-TinyPNG.png?w=1280&h=856&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880376&s=13b52fd469ea53743ea32dadd74fe7a9 1280w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/South-Africa-2-Benefit-Sharing-TinyPNG.png?w=980&h=655&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880376&s=0a36d4fb1370c1bbd80d12e5accd124d 980w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/South-Africa-2-Benefit-Sharing-TinyPNG.png?w=768&h=514&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880376&s=1a8f33f302ee75c6e0ed55007d7ab527 768w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/South-Africa-2-Benefit-Sharing-TinyPNG.png?w=640&h=428&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880376&s=ae8062d905ac5db18c155156508388a3 640w, https://variant-bio.transforms.svdcdn.com/staging/default/South-Africa-2-Benefit-Sharing-TinyPNG.png?w=480&h=321&q=82&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1696880376&s=5af6aa02945ee50fc219986d8949d6f9 480w)
Variant Bio helped renovate the space of Limpopo’s Ratanang School for Children with Multiple Disabilities that supports the families of children with cerebral palsy; purchased medical and other supplies to expand and freshen up the Vakoma Home For Frail Older Persons in Soweto, which looks after elderly people who are left uncared for when their families are working; and provided a ride-on mower for the Rhulani Mabasa Children’s Foundation, also in Soweto, which turned an abandoned field into an educational center, day care, and sports center.
A New Paradigm
Indigenous thought leader, Dr. Keolu Fox, discusses the importance of benefit sharing in genomic research and the unique approach at Variant Bio.