24 November 2025
Statement delivered by Mila Maistat, Senior Manager, Policy, Strategy and Market Access
Statement at the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement
We believe that Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) can contribute to the PABS System in several practical ways. MPP works to expand access to essential health products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through licensing and technology transfer. These are core tools for equitable access and are mentioned as part of the benefit-sharing elements set out under Article 12 of the Pandemic Agreement. The “additional benefits” highlighted in Article 12(8) namely, capacity-building, technical assistance, R&D collaboration, non-exclusive licensing, and technology transfer, can play a key role in strengthening global manufacturing capacity. And these are all areas where MPP has long-standing experience working closely with WHO and Member States.
A clear illustration is the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, launched by WHO and MPP in July 2021.The Programme was created in response to COVID-19 to provide a concrete, multilateral solution to inequities in vaccine access. At its core, there is a coordinated model where technology is developed centrally and then shared through a network of partners across regions. Through the Programme, the mRNA platform has successfully been developed and is now being transferred to manufacturers in 15 countries across all WHO regions, demonstrating how technology transfer can translate into real, distributed capacity. As the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme enters its second phase, it is expected that by 2030, the companies involved in the Programme would be in a position to supply over 1.9 billion doses of vaccines for pandemic response.
Importantly, the Programme has evolved beyond a single disease. Regional R&D consortia have been established to explore relevant disease areas and develop next-generation mRNA applications, including vaccines and therapeutics. This will help to ensure that the capabilities developed are utilised between pandemics while maintaining a foundation for rapid response.
The choice of mRNA technology reflects its adaptability, as it can be rapidly retargeted for new pathogens. It is also relatively straightforward to transfer and scale up and requires a smaller facility footprint than many traditional platforms. However, the underlying model, including transparent licensing, knowledge, skills and technical expertise transfer, and regional capacity strengthening is applicable to other technologies and can be adapted to support PABS benefit-sharing more broadly.
In addition, MPP’s experience and expertise in negotiating non-exclusive licensing agreements and in facilitating their implementation in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders at international and national levels have enabled access to innovative health products in over 140 LMICs and has increasingly been used to support the geographical diversification of manufacturing. MPP offers practical mechanisms that can help the PABS System shift from high-level commitments to operational and impactful outcomes.
Know more about the mRNA TT programme
Know more about our work in licensing for public health
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.