1 November 2023
Geneva – Today, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomed Govind Narayanan as its newest Board member, with his expertise in the generics industry.
With a background in Engineering, Govind started his career at Gharda Chemicals, gaining eight years of diverse experience in roles spanning Engineering, Design, Projects, and Manufacturing. Later, as CEO and Managing Director of Shasun from 2000 to 2010, he transformed the company from a single-product API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) entity into a diversified business, expanding into finished dosage, Contract Research and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS), and biologics. As the Managing Director of Aurobindo Pharma from 2010 to 2021, Govind oversaw significant growth, establishing new businesses and executing strategic acquisitions. He is currently collaborating with TI (a Murugappa group company) to create a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). He also serves as an operating partner at Kedaara Capital, a private equity firm, and sits on the board of United Way India.
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.