On World AIDS Day, the organisation releases new impact numbers noting progress of generic partners to deliver low-cost, high quality HIV medicines to developing countries

Geneva, 1 December 2016  — The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) today announced the expansion of its network of generic manufacturers to include Sandoz and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. to help produce much needed hepatitis C treatments for developing countries. Both companies have signed sub-licensing agreements to manufacture Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMS) daclatasvir, a new direct-acting antiviral for hepatitis C that, when used in combination with other treatments, is proven to cure multiple genotypes of the HCV virus. The MPP signed a licence and technology transfer agreement with BMS for the treatment in November, 2015.

“We’re pleased to welcome Sandoz and Beximco as new generic manufacturing partners supporting the development of daclatasvir,” said Greg Perry, MPP Executive Director. “Since we expanded our mandate into hepatitis C last November, we have moved quickly to ensure strong competition among licensed generic manufacturers and long-term supply of the treatment.”

The MPP signed a sub-licence with current partner Mylan to manufacture daclatasvir as well. In the past year, the organisation has granted 10 sub-licences to speed access to the treatment to 112 low- and middle-income countries.

“As part of our commitment to broadening access to medicines in developing countries, BMS has been proud to work with the Medicines Patent Pool on supporting the distribution of daclatasvir through its voluntary licensing programme,” said Amadou Diarra, Head, Global Policy, Advocacy & Government Affairs at BMS. “At least a billion people worldwide lack access to essential medicines they need to live healthy lives. We are committed to strengthening efforts to enable global access to daclatasvir for hepatitis C patients.”

On World AIDS Day, the MPP also released new impact numbers noting the progress of its licensees over the past several years to deliver low-cost HIV medicines and reduce overall treatment costs for international procurers and governments. Since 2012, MPP’s partners have helped generate savings of USD 239 million through the distribution of generic medicines in 125 developing countries. This includes 79 countries that were previously unable to benefit from generic competition for such medicines. Impact is expected to increase as MPP licensees obtain approval for novel medicines such as dolutegravir currently in the registration process.

The MPP is now working with fifteen generic companies on more than 100 projects to manufacture, register and deliver 13 World Health Organization-recommended HIV and hepatitis C  treatments to up to 131 countries in the developing world.

About the Medicines Patent Pool

The Medicines Patent Pool is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to HIV, viral hepatitis C and tuberculosis treatments in low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, the MPP partners with industry, civil society, international organisations, patient groups and other stakeholders to prioritise, forecast and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations. To date, the MPP has signed agreements with seven patent holders for twelve HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform and one hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals. Its generic partners have distributed four billion doses of low-cost medicines to 125 countries. The MPP was founded and remains fully funded by UNITAID.

Contact:

Katherine Moore

Head of Communications
Medicines Patent Pool
Tel: +41 22 533 5054 | Mobile: +41 79 825 4786 or
kmoore@medicinespatentpool.org