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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.
In the latest episode of WIPO’s Mission Imagination, Charles Gore, Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool, shares how MPP’s voluntary licensing model is bridging the gap between innovation and equitable access to life-saving medicines.
"The Medicines Patent Pool was established as a landmark initiative to expand access to treatments for priority diseases. Over the last decade, MPP has become a strong partner in global health, working to facilitate access to HIV and hepatitis C medicines in low- and middle-income countries through voluntary licensing and patent pooling. With its impressive track record, MPP has a critical role to play in making affordable versions of patented essential medicines and technologies available to those who need it the most, including for COVID-19."
"The creation fo the Medicines Patent Pool by Unitaid ten years ago enabled the production of generics that treat tens of millions of people around the world. This led to important successes such as an annual treatment for HIV/AIDS for less than USD 70 in Africa, instead of USD 10,000 in Europe. Today, maybe more than ever, we need MPP’s model to help pharmaceutical companies license their rights on a voluntary basis and continue to save lives."
"As the Medicines Patent Pool celebrates its ten-year anniversary, we are proud to support MPP’s effort to speed up access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries. MPP’s voluntary licence mechanism is very much needed, especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it promotes a collaborative vision of ensuring rapid access of quality-assured affordable essential medicines to people living in low- and middle-income countries while acknowledging the need to fund innovation."
patent holders with MPP signed agreements
generic manufacturers and product developers have sublicences from MPP
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Patent and licensing status: last updated on 1st October 2023. Disclaimer | Product availability data from MPP sublicensees: last updated in March 2025 (data as of 31st December 2024) | Note: Sales may occur in countries in the absence of registration via procurement channels, registration waivers and/or exemptions
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