In July 2022, ViiV Healthcare and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed a voluntary licensing agreement for patents related to cabotegravir long-acting (LA) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), enabling access in 90 countries. In July 2025, this licence was expanded to also cover the use of cabotegravir LA for HIV treatment (in combination with rilpivirine) in the same 90 countries.
The agreement enables generic manufacturers to develop, manufacture and supply generic versions of cabotegravir LA for for PrEP and treatment in all low-income, lower-middle-income and Sub-Sahara African countries, as well as others where there are no patents in force.
This is the first voluntary licence covering a full long-acting HIV treatment regimen, marking a major milestone in global access to innovative HIV medicines.
Subject to required regulatory approvals being obtained, the updated agreement is expected to accelerate access to generic cabotegravir LA for both prevention and treatment.
*Please note this page appears twice: under “HIV” and “Long-acting therapeutics”
Sublicence Agreement
Side Letter
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.