In May 2022, under the auspices of WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP), MPP signed two licensing agreements with the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the development of 11 innovative therapeutics, early-stage vaccines and diagnostic tools for COVID-19.

Among these COVID-19 technologies is a research tool for vaccine development:

SARS-CoV-2 Pseudotyping Plasmid:

NIAID scientists developed a plasmid encoding spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 variants. This research tool can be used to make pseudoviruses, which are harmless proxy viruses. Because SARS-CoV-2 is a potentially lethal and airborne virus, it must be handled in high-containment laboratories (Biosafety Level 3) that require special airflow, ventilation and decontamination procedures. Research on SARS-CoV-2 countermeasures can be conducted more expeditiously by using pseudoviruses in standard Biosafety Level 2 laboratories.

MPP invites interested developers anywhere in the world to express their interest in obtaining a sublicence for any of these technologies by submitting an e-mail to C-TAP-NIH@medicinespatentpool.org providing as much detail as possible as to what the developer intends to do with a sublicence.

Key Features
Aim of the licences To facilitate the manufacture and commercialisation of Covid-19 related health products and vaccines around the world
Technology One licence covers different patents and materials on technologies potentially relevant in the fight against COVID-19. The second licence specifically covers patents on the spike protein.
Products Any product or vaccine that is covered by the Patents or Patent Applications or uses the Licensed Material.
Field of use While one licence on the different technologies is granted for SARS-CoV-2 products for the WHO C-TAP program, the second licence, in relation to spike protein, refers to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for the WHO C-TAP program.
Territory Worldwide
Term Continuing until the date the last Patent has lapsed, expired, or been invalidated
Scope of the grant Non-exclusive right to grant royalty-bearing sublicences to develop the licensed patents/material into licensed products or vaccines, and to commercialise the licensed products or vaccines
Sublicence MPP invites interested developers anywhere in the world to express their interest in obtaining a sublicence for any of these technologies by submitting an e-mail to C-TAP-NIH@medicinespatentpool.org providing as much detail as possible as to what the developer intends to do with a sublicence
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