30 July 2024
The Action Plan “Accelerating bnAbs for Peri- and Post-Natal HIV Prophylaxis” was published in July 2024. Developed by a Task Force of leading experts and stakeholders, including the Medicines Patent Pool, this comprehensive plan outlines a strategic approach to address the urgent need for innovative HIV prevention strategies for infants.
In 2023 alone, approximately 120,000 infants acquired HIV, contributing to 9% of new global infections. This underscores the urgent need to intensify prevention efforts and reduce new infant infections. The document highlights the potential of broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAbs) as a promising strategy to address gaps in the prevention of peri- and post-natal HIV transmission. These antibodies have shown encouraging safety and efficacy profiles in early clinical trials, offering hope for long-term protection against HIV without the adherence challenges associated with daily oral prophylaxis.
The Action Plan details a multi-faceted strategy encompassing enabling science, clinical development, community partnership, regulatory pathways, manufacturing, access, policy, and advocacy. It aims to accelerate the development and broad implementation of bnAbs, ensuring they are accessible to the populations most in need.
Click here to download the Action Plan.
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.