21 August 2025
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomes Unitaid’s landmark investment to strengthen African health manufacturing and regional production of essential diagnostics and medicines. This initiative will enhance local capacity for HIV, malaria, and maternal health products, contributing to more resilient and equitable health systems across the continent. As part of this package, MPP will receive US$1.5 million to support the Medicines Supply Resilience (MedSuRe) Africa project, led by the US Pharmacopeia (USP). MPP’s contribution will include licensing activities, expanding regional manufacturing capabilities for quality-assured medicines, and leading selected pandemic preparedness efforts. “Strengthening regional manufacturing is key to ensuring sustainable access to quality-assured medicines,” said Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP. “By supporting African manufacturers and health institutions, we are empowering communities to build sustainable solutions that reduce reliance on distant suppliers.” MPP will collaborate closely with USP and consortium partners to ensure this investment fosters a robust regional manufacturing network in Africa—reaching the communities that need it most and advancing equitable access to life-saving treatments.
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomes Unitaid’s landmark investment to strengthen African health manufacturing and regional production of essential diagnostics and medicines. This initiative will enhance local capacity for HIV, malaria, and maternal health products, contributing to more resilient and equitable health systems across the continent.
As part of this package, MPP will receive US$1.5 million to support the Medicines Supply Resilience (MedSuRe) Africa project, led by the US Pharmacopeia (USP). MPP’s contribution will include licensing activities, expanding regional manufacturing capabilities for quality-assured medicines, and leading selected pandemic preparedness efforts.
“Strengthening regional manufacturing is key to ensuring sustainable access to quality-assured medicines,” said Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP. “By supporting African manufacturers and health institutions, we are empowering communities to build sustainable solutions that reduce reliance on distant suppliers.”
MPP will collaborate closely with USP and consortium partners to ensure this investment fosters a robust regional manufacturing network in Africa—reaching the communities that need it most and advancing equitable access to life-saving treatments.
Building strong regional manufacturing in Africa is key to creating more resilient and equitable health systems. By producing medicines and health technologies closer to where they are needed, countries can:
Reduce dependency on distant suppliers which can have delivery disruptions and improve security of supply chains (MedAccess, 2024).
Respond faster to health crises such as pandemics by having local capacity in place (USP, 2024).
Improve affordability, with local production helping to lower costs and increase access for patients (USP, 2024).
Despite its promise, regional manufacturing in Africa faces significant hurdles. Many manufacturers rely on imported raw materials and antigens, have limited end-to-end infrastructure, and face uncertain demand that can hold back investment and growth.
Key facts:
Africa represents 25% of global vaccine demand, yet only 1% of vaccines used on the continent are produced locally
3% of all medicines Africa uses are produced in Africa (MedAccess, 2024)
Of 11 African vaccine manufacturers, 10 only have fill/finish capacity, while just 2 countries (South Africa and Senegal) operate end-to-end manufacturing
Supply chain dependence and limited infrastructure were major barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying vaccine access
60% by 2040 is Africa’s target to locally manufacture its routine vaccine needs (MedAccess, 2024)
Other Sources (Doua et al., 2025)
These structural challenges underline why targeted investments, technology transfer, and regulatory strengthening are essential to make regional health manufacturing sustainable.
That is why partnerships are so important. Initiatives such as Unitaid’s investment to African health manufacturing and MPP’s licensing expertise help build capacity, strengthen local production networks, and support long-term sustainability.
Together with regional and global partners, these efforts are helping ensure that lifesaving medicines and diagnostics are accessible, affordable, and produced closer to the communities that need them most.
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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.