WIPO and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) jointly organised the presentation of a new study, that demonstrates how voluntary licensing can advance access to medical technologies, while being commercially viable for biopharmaceutical companies. The study, conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), presents evidence that voluntary licensing is an effective mechanism to address global health disparities, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using both qualitative and quantitative analyses, the study illustrates how voluntary licensing advances access to medical products across multiple geographies while offering economic benefits for biopharmaceutical companies.
The study provides solid evidence that voluntary licensing can increase revenues for both innovator and generic companies, enhance access and encourage employee retention, leading to significant cost savings, with minimum costs and risks to companies.The study also demonstrates the advantages of voluntary licensing as a mechanism to support global partnerships, local manufacturing, and equitable access to healthcare solutions.
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Amy Dietterich Director of the Global Challenges Division WIPO
Antony Taubman Director Intellectual Property Division, WTO
Sandra Nobre Business Development, Executive Leadership Team Medicines Patent Pool
Meghmala Das Business Development Alliance Manager, MPP
Siddhartha Prakash Head, Global Health, WIPO
James Anderson Director Global Health, IFPMA
Dr Susana Almeida Secretary General, IGBA
Takanori Sato Chair, Global Health Sub-Committee, JPMA
Lizzie Wilson Senior IP Attache, UK Mission to the UN and WTO
Dr Cary Adams CEO UICC
Marumo Nkomo Deputy Permanent Representative, South African Mission to WTO
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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.