MPP was delighted to take part in the World Cancer Congress between 17-19 September 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. An initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the World Cancer Congress aims to strengthen the participants’ actions and impact on national, regional and international scales through a multidisciplinary programme featuring the latest successful cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care interventions.
MPP colleagues actively participated in a number of events:
Sandra Nobre spoke at IDA Foundation’s plenary session on “Disparities in Cancer Care: Practical Approaches to Improve Global Access to Quality-Assured Cancer Medicines” Tuesday, 17 September 2024, 12:10 – 13:10 Room Amphitheatre D
Objectives :
Access to quality-assured cancer medicines in low resource settings remains a significant challenge, leading to disparities in cancer care and outcomes. A staggering 70% of total cancer mortalities occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and more than 50% of the cancer drugs on the WHO Essential medicines List are unavailable in LMICs, underscoring a significant disparity in the lack of access to essential oncology medicines and diagnostics. Without access to them, people diagnosed with cancer face drastically reduced health outcomes and quality of life. Bridging the gap to ensure a quality-assured portfolio of oncolytic drugs tailored to underserved regions is imperative to address this issue. The panel of experts selected on this panel delve into the existing barriers that currently impede access to cancer medicines, and share case studies from their respective countries or programmes to show solutions to improve access.
Check the programme on the WCC website
Esteban Burrone took part of Spotlight Session 3 – SL3 on “Increasing access to essential cancer medicines in low-and middle-income countries: why voluntary licensing is good for society and smart for businesses” Tuesday, 17 September 2024, 16:30 – 17:30 Spotlight Stage – Espace Jeanne Hersch
Access the MPP report “Voluntary Licensing: Right for Health, Smart for Business” which will be discussed during the session.
Giulia Segafredo participated in a sideline session “The Global Breast Cancer Initiative: An Informal Dialogue on Access to Essential Breast Cancer Medicines and Technologies” convened by the World Health Organization at the UN Palais. Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 15:00 – 17:30 It is an invite-only session
We were delighted to meet many of you at our MPP booth 13!
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.