In December 2021, MPP and the University of Washington (UW) signed a licence agreement on a long-acting injectable (LAI) drug combination candidate that is being developed for use in HIV treatment, with support from Unitaid. The LAI formulation is enabled by UW’s drug combinations nanotechnology. Currently at a pre-clinical stage, the LAI developed by the Targeted, Long-acting and Combination Anti-Retroviral Therapy (TLC-ART) program based at UW, has the potential to transform the WHO-recommended daily oral dosage of TLD (tenofovir/lamivudine/dolutegravir) into a simple subcutaneous monthly injection. This LAI candidate, if proven safe, effective, and acceptable, could contribute to reducing pill burden, improving adherence for certain people, and reducing stigma associated with the necessity of taking daily pills.
The licence agreement covers all low- and middle-income countries and is royalty free in both public and private markets.
More information on the technology profile
More information on the work of MPP in long-acting therapeutics
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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.