22 August 2024
Geneva – The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is concerned about the mpox outbreak, which Africa CDC has declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and the World Health Organization a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). MPP is fully committed to supporting the global response to this crisis.
Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP, said, “If we have learned anything in the last four years, it is the need to act fast right from the outset, which is now. While finding ways to rapidly deploy countermeasures to the affected countries is crucial, it is equally important to support the regional manufacturing of these countermeasures. The latter is where MPP can play a significant role in providing support and, through a longer-term approach, contribute to a sustainable response.”
MPP is ready to work with others to act quickly and effectively to support the manufacturing of possible countermeasures in low- and middle-income countries. We have a proven track record of working with manufacturers worldwide to support equitable access, having licensed three antivirals and other health technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic and co-leading the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme with WHO. MPP’s technology transfer team stands ready to support the transfer of technology to manufacturers in Africa.
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.