20 February 2020
Geneva, 20 February 2020 – The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) today announced that it signed a sublicence agreement and partnered with Mylan, a global pharmaceutical company, to develop, manufacture and supply the first generic version of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) – a World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV)infections.
G/P is the only all oral, once-daily pan-genotypic combination regimen recommended by WHO that is currently not available as a generic medicine. The two organisations have entered an agreement to undertake G/P manufacturing henceforth and boost the supply to make it accessible to Hepatitis C patients.
“We are pleased that, thanks to this sublicence agreement, Mylan will soon be able to increase access to the first generic version of G/P in developing countries, and supply affordable, quality-assured versions of this key treatment for treating HCV,” said Charles Gore, MPP Executive Director.
In November 2018, MPP signed a royalty-free licence agreement with patent holder AbbVie to enable quality-assured manufacturers to develop and sell generic medicines containing G/P in 96 low- and middle-income countries and territories at affordable prices.
More information on glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P)
Access MPP-Mylan sublicence agreement
Access MPP-Abbvie licence agreement
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.