In September 2018, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and the Medicines For All Institute (M4ALL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will ultimately accelerate access to global health medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), by promoting the reduced cost of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) – a major cost driver in treating infectious diseases in the developing world.

While there is a critical need for novel, cost-saving approaches to API production, neither innovator drug companies or generic manufacturers have the economic incentives to develop them. M4ALL (which operates under the auspices of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering) meets this need by identifying manufacturing routes that utilise the lowest-cost materials and most efficient tools available, which reduces the overall costs and the prices of essential medications, while preserving manufacturer margins and the security of supply.

Access the MOU here

About the Medicines Patent Pool

The Medicines Patent Pool 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, the MPP partners with industry, civil society, international organisations, 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, the MPP has signed agreements with nine patent holders for thirteen HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, two hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals and a tuberculosis treatment. The MPP was founded and is funded by Unitaid.

About Medicines For All Institute

The Medicines For All Institute (M4ALL) operates under the auspices of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering. M4ALL’s mission is to improve access to affordable, high-quality medicines. This is done by lowering the cost of medications, both in market and in development, as well as enhancing the security of supply chains for these essential medications.

The Medicines for All Institute accomplishes its mission by reducing the cost of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) — a major cost driver in treating infectious diseases in the developing world. There is a critical need for novel, cost-saving approaches to API production, but neither innovator drug companies nor generic manufacturers have economic incentives to develop them. Medicines for All meets this need by identifying manufacturing routes that utilise the lowest-cost raw materials and most efficient tools available.