MPP signs first COVID-19 licensing deal over MSD’s molnupiravir
UN-backed public health organisation The Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) has entered into a licence agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and others to increase access to molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801)—an investigational oral COVID-19 medicine—for low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC).
Under the terms of the agreement, the first MPP has signed for a COVID-19 treatment, MPP will be permitted to sublicense the drug to local manufacturers, providing access to affordable treatments for more than 105 LMICs.
MSD, its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, and the drug’s inventor Emory University will not receive royalties for sales of molnupiravir under the agreement for as long as COVID-19 remains classified as a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization.
Charles Gore, executive director, MPP said: “The interim results for molnupiravir are compelling and we see this oral treatment candidate as a potentially important tool to help address the current health crisis.
“This transparent, public health-driven agreement is MPP’s first voluntary license for a COVID-19 medical technology, and we hope that MSD’s agreement with MPP will be a strong encouragement to others.”
Molnupiravir was invented at Emory University and licensed to Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and MSD through Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory (DRIVE), which was formed to advance the development of early-stage drug candidates for viral diseases of global concern.
Both MSD and Ridgeback have submitted an emergency use authorisation application for molnupiravir to the US Food and Drug Administration and are working on certification with other international regulatory agencies.
Frank Clyburn, executive vice president, MSD, said: “MSD’s mission to save and improve lives is a truly global commitment. This agreement with MPP is another important element in our multi-faceted strategy to accelerate broad, affordable access to molnupiravir, if approved or authorised, for patients no matter where they live, including in countries where governments face greater challenges to finance healthcare.”
Gregory Fenves, president, Emory University said: “The licence for molnupiravir to the MPP will support global public health and address unmet medical needs—reflecting Emory’s mission to serve humanity. Innovative research and collaboration across organisations have been vital in the fight against COVID-19.”
Wider access
The announcement of this agreement comes at a time when talks to temporarily waive patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines are at a standstill.
The wavier, first pitched by South Africa and India, looks to promote the development of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries by waiving rights related to the current treatments.
This month, the waiver yet again failed to pass World Trade Organisation (WTO) voting with a few countries remaining opposed to it, despite mounting pressure from governments, charities, and even ex-heads-of-state to back the waiver.
According to Reuters, talks at the WTO are “circular” on the issue with no real progress being achieved.
