19 May 2026
STATEMENT
Delivered by Hillary Mutungi
We commend negotiators for their continued efforts to build consensus around the PABS Annex. We also note the focus on non-exclusive licensing and technology transfer as important elements to achieving the equity objectives of the Pandemic Agreement.
As you know, these mechanisms have already been widely applied in practice to support equitable access to many other health products.
In this regard, we are pleased to announce that MPP and Roche have signed a new voluntary licence agreement on baloxavir marboxil, a WHO-recommended antiviral for influenza. This agreement demonstrates three important things.
First, that proven global access mechanisms not only exist, but continue delivering for public health. The licence agreement will enable generic manufacturers to supply quality-assured baloxavir across 129 countries while supporting geographically diversified manufacturing and regional production capacity.
Second, the licence includes provisions to facilitate access during a public health emergency, including collaboration to address manufacturing and supply barriers. This is particularly important in the context of pandemic preparedness and response.
Third, the agreement illustrates how public health-oriented licensing and sharing of know-how can support both immediate access objectives and longer-term preparedness goals. By supporting local and regional manufacturers, the MPP mechanism contributes to building sustainable capacity before emergencies occur.
This licence agreement provides a valuable example for operationalizing the Pandemic Agreement and highlights the importance of leveraging proven mechanisms such as MPP licensing and the WHO-MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme to deliver timely, effective, and equitable outcomes for Member States.
Item 11 — Recommitting to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination (Document A79/4)
Delivered by Marie Levy
The Medicines Patent Pool welcomes the call to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.
Reaching the 2030 targets of the Global Technical Strategy requires continued investment in tools that work today, as well as timely and affordable access to next generation anti-malarial medicines.
Public health–oriented voluntary licensing is a proven mechanism to deliver access to new medicines; it shortens the time between innovation and availability, lowers prices, and strengthens supply security.
MPP stands ready to apply our model in the field of malaria as new antimalarials advance through the pipeline. This includes working towards the availability of adapted child-friendly formulations of key malaria medicines, in line with the outcomes of the PADO process for malaria convened by the WHO’s Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations.
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 innovative medicines and other health technologies 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 health products and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 23 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, one antiviral treatment for influenza, 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 and Coeffient Giving. MPP’s activities in technology transfer are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the Government of Flanders and SDC.