The Medicines Patent Pool, the Department of Science and Innovation of South Africa, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, with the support of the World Health Organization convened a high-level event followed by a reception for heads of delegations, representatives of WHO and other health agencies on the occasion of the 75th World Health Assembly.
Health Ministers and country representatives had the opportunity to discuss the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub Programme and how it is a game changer for access to health products and self-reliance in low- and middle-income countries.
The event was composed of two panel discussions which explored various aspects of the Hub Programme, especially: • its network all around the world and the trainings that have already been provided at Afrigen in Cape Town • How the Hub is supporting countries and regions for pandemic preparedness • how the Hub and its network can be further developed into a dynamic R&D network to address unmet health needs
Click the image to watch a video on the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub Programme
Panelists included:
The session was moderated by Folly Bah Thibault, Al Jazeera
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.