Dates: 3–8 December 2025 Location: Accra, Ghana
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) was thrilled to participate in ICASA 2025, the largest HIV/AIDS, STIs, TB, Malaria, and health systems strengthening conference in Africa. This 23rd edition, themed “Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated Sustainable Responses to End AIDS, TB & Malaria”, offered a pivotal platform to advance dialogue, share innovation, and drive collective action.
At ICASA 2025, MPP joined communities, governments, innovators, generic manufacturers, the World Health Organization, Unitaid, and other public health actors to shape the future of HIV response in Africa, foster collaboration, and accelerate efforts to end the HIV pandemic.
MPP and Unitaid convened a session “Breaking New Grounds: Long-Acting HIV Treatment for a New Generation” on Wednesday 3 December 2025, from 11:45 to 12:30 GMT. During this session, we explored the next steps and the support needed for the rollout of CAB-LA alongside RPV-LA.
Two clear messages stood out: -choice matters, because long‑acting options give people a genuine alternative to daily pills aligned with dignity and privacy; and -implementation is next, because we must rapidly study and address service‑delivery challenges so that these new and emerging modalities fulfil their promise.
From the community, Maurine Murenga (Lean on Me Foundation – Kenya) reminded us that long‑acting injectables can reduce daily pill burden, protect privacy, and strengthen adherence—advancing dignity and viral suppression for people living with HIV. From the originator side, Anna Hare (ViiV Healthcare) outlined how voluntary licensing with MPP and collaboration with the World Health Organization and Unitaid aim to translate innovation into affordable, accessible long‑acting options across LMICs. Speaking to global policy, Tereza Kasaeva (World Health Organization) noted that WHO guidance now includes CAB‑LA + RPV‑LA as a treatment option—signalling a shift toward simpler regimens that support adherence and progress toward the UNAIDS 95‑95‑95 targets. Bringing a country lens, Emmanuel Teviu (Ghana Health Service) stressed the need for rapid guideline adoption, regulatory readiness, provider training, demand creation, and financing to deliver long‑acting therapy equitably. On manufacturing commitments, Jijo Jose (Aurobindo Pharma) reaffirmed progress from sublicence to delivery and provided insights on timelines of formulation development, regulatory pathways, and supply to priority countries, while Sushil Kumar Mishra (Viatris) emphasised that successful market entry hinges on manufacturing and regulatory readiness plus ecosystem partnerships, financing, and robust supply‑chain logistics. Sweety Jimmy (Cipla), in a video message, underlined how the expanded MPP licence on CAB-LA aims for scale and affordability—paired with country‑level awareness—so that long‑acting treatment options reach those who need them.
MPP-Unitaid session
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.