24 May 2023
Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage
13.4 Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access
Speaker: Mila Maistat
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomes the progress on implementing resolution WHA74.6.
COVID-19 made clear the importance of distributed manufacturing of health products to meet major public health challenges. Licensing and technology transfer can be key ways to achieve that. This is why MPP expanded the network of manufacturing partners we work with to over 50 manufacturers across all Who regions in order to develop and supply affordable quality assured medicines in LMICs
Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO, MPP and multiple partners developed the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, aimed at ensuring sustainable manufacturing of mRNA vaccines in LMICs. The programme now works with manufacturers in 15 countries through the development and transfer of mRNA technology, and development of an R&D network.
MPP looks forward to continuing to support Member States in developing sustainable, competitive and quality local and regional manufacturing of essential health technologies.
13.2 Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, and mental health
Speaker: Giulia Segafredo
The Medicines Patent Pool welcomes the opportunity to comment on the “Updated menu of policy options and cost-effective interventions for the prevention and control of NCDs” and notes that one of the enabling actions listed is to improve the availability of affordable essential medicines.
In 2021, the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines reiterated the important role of voluntary licensing as a key strategy to improve affordable access to essential medicines and urged the MPP to explore voluntary licenses for NCDs medicines, small molecules, and biotherapeutics, with high potential to be listed, to work on paving the way for future access.
MPP re-affirms its commitment to working with WHO and Member States, to identify priorities and create a favorable environment for licensing to improve access to essential treatments, which is a key condition to achieving UHC.
Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies
14. Public health emergencies: preparedness and responses
Speaker: Tiwadayo Braimoh
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomes the report on strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience (HEPR) (document A76/10). MPP notes the recognition in the report of the need for a shift towards an ecosystem approach that includes access to countermeasures.
It is also noteworthy that the report mentions the need to ensure fast-track research and development; scalable manufacturing; and end-to-end health emergency supply chains. MPP would like to suggest that key enablers of timely and equitable access to innovative countermeasures such as licensing and technology transfer are also considered as core objectives. This mechanism have been applied during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example to facilitate access to multiple affordable generic COVID-19 antivirals, and MPP believes it could potentially be strengthened for future pandemics.
Furthermore, MPP would like to highlight the need to build on existing mechanisms, partnerships, and capacities as integral and essential components of a strengthened global architecture for health emergency preparedness and response.
Thank you for the opportunity.
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.