WHO and MPP announce the first transparent, global, non-exclusive licence for a COVID-19 technology

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Pfizer and The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) Sign Licensing Agreement for COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatment Candidate to Expand Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

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The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and MSD enter into licence agreement for molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral COVID-19 medicine, to increase broad access in low- and middle- income countries

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New study confirms MPP licences save money and lives

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Three additional generic manufacturing partners join efforts to increase access to generic hepatitis C treatment glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

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About Us

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to, and facilitate the development of, life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders, to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.

To date, MPP has signed agreements with twelve patent holders for thirteen HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a long-acting technology, two experimental oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and a COVID-19 serological antibody diagnostic test. In 2020, MPP’s mandate was temporarily expanded to include COVID-19 treatments. In 2021 it was expanded further to include the licensing of technology with an initial focus on COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic preparedness.

MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government and SDC.

Featured

Technology Transfer Hub

05 October 2021

Access to Medicines Tracker

02 March 2020

Long-acting Therapeutics

02 March 2020

VaxPaL

08 June 2021

Discover MedsPaL

MedsPaL, MPP’s medicines patents and licences database, is a free resource that provides information on the intellectual property status of selected patented essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries.

Dive into it today!

"The Medicines Patent Pool was established as a landmark initiative to expand access to treatments for priority diseases. Over the last decade, MPP has become a strong partner in global health, working to facilitate access to HIV and hepatitis C medicines in low- and middle-income countries through voluntary licensing and patent pooling. With its impressive track record, MPP has a critical role to play in making affordable versions of patented essential medicines and technologies available to those who need it the most, including for COVID-19."

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization

"The creation fo the Medicines Patent Pool by Unitaid ten years ago enabled the production of generics that treat tens of millions of people around the world. This led to important successes such as an annual treatment for HIV/AIDS for less than USD 70 in Africa, instead of USD 10,000 in Europe. Today, maybe more than ever, we need MPP’s model to help pharmaceutical companies license their rights on a voluntary basis and continue to save lives."

Marisol Touraine, Chair of the Executive Board of Unitaid

"As the Medicines Patent Pool celebrates its ten-year anniversary, we are proud to support MPP’s effort to speed up access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries. MPP’s voluntary licence mechanism is very much needed, especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it promotes a collaborative vision of ensuring rapid access of quality-assured affordable essential medicines to people living in low- and middle-income countries while acknowledging the need to fund innovation."

Alexander Schulze, Head of the Division Global Programme Health, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

MPP in Numbers

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patent holders with MPP signed agreements

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generic manufactures and product developers have sublicenses from MPP

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doses of treatment supplied (Jan 2012 - Dec 2020)
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dollars saved through MPP'S licences (Jan 2012 - Dec 2020)
By 2030
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projected dollars saved
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countries have benefited from access to MPP-licence products
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patient-years of treatment through MPPs generic partners (Jan 2012 - Dec 2020)
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deaths averted (Jan 2012 - Dec 2020)
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deaths averted

For Everyone Everywhere

Discover where we helped and what we have achieved

 

Patent and licensing status: last updated on 11 May 2021. Disclaimer | Product availability data from MPP sublicensees: last updated in October 2021 (data as of 30 June 2021) | Note: Sales may occur in countries in the absence of registration via procurement channels, registration waivers and/or exemptions

Impact Stories

How access to antiretrovirals is building the future

Dr. Rachel Musoke is a paediatrician who, for the last 15 years, has devoted her care to Nyumbani Children’s Home, a refuge for children living with HIV in Kenya.
Watch more stories!

Additional Tools

Business Model

Prioritising Medicines for Licensing

Licences

MedsPaL

Key Publications

Annual Reports

2020 Annual Report: A Decade of Making Medicines Accessible

15 July 2021

Prioritising Medicines for Licensing

02 March 2020

MPP Publications

MPP framework for prioritising target medicines for in-licensing under its newly expanded mandate

09 May 2019

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Information about our medicines patents and licences database

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