8 July 2022
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) welcomes a research collaboration agreement between U.S. government researchers and Afrigen Biologics for the development of next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
The agreement between Afrigen and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, includes the exchange of scientific expertise that may be used to make mRNA vaccines.
Afrigen is part of the mRNA technology transfer hub programme, a global initiative designed to establish sustainable, locally owned mRNA manufacturing capabilities in and for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
“We at MPP are delighted to see these research agreements aimed at building vaccine manufacturing capacity in LMICs,” said Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP. “Sharing know-how and expertise is about expanding global access to essential medicines.”
Access announcement of collaboration agreement
Read more on the Hub
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.