9 May 2019
Geneva, 9 May 2019 – The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has provided feedback on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) draft Global Strategy for TB Research and Innovation. The foundation welcomes the fact that the Global Strategy acknowledges the critical importance of ensuring that people with tuberculosis (TB) can benefit from advancements in TB research and the need for new models of innovation that are not only needs driven and evidence based, but guided by the core principles of affordability, efficiency, equity, sustainability and collaboration.
Patent pooling is recognised in the strategy as one possible approach to supporting the development of needed medicines in the context of an enabling environment for TB research and innovation. The MPP is the first patent pool in the field of health and as such welcomes the opportunity to offer its perspective on the potential of the approach in the field of TB.
Read the MPP’s feedback in full HERE
More information on the WHO call for contribution to the public consultation on the development of a Global Strategy for TB Research and Innovation HERE
Press and Media
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 22 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.
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), Government of Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Flanders. MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.