MPP inks deal with French pharma firm to fight malaria in low-income countries
Malaria remains endemic in 91 countries representing half of the world’s population | Licence is key to allow rapid access to innovation for those who need it most.
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and French pharmaceutical company MedinCell have signed a licence agreement for a long-acting drug formulation to fight malaria in low- and middle-income countries.
The MMP confirmed the deal yesterday, September 13.
This non-exclusive licence agreement will enable MPP to support the identification of suitable partners for the development and commercialisation of the treatment, mdc-STM.
The drug comprises an injectable formulation of ivermectin with a three-month action-duration, using MedinCell’s BEPO technology.
Malaria remains endemic in 91 countries representing half of the world’s population. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, 241 million people were infected worldwide in 2020, 95% of them in Africa, leading to 627,000 deaths. Children aged under five are the most vulnerable, accounting for 80% of deaths from malaria.
Commenting on the deal, Charles Gore, executive director of MPP, said:
“We are very proud to be partnering with MedinCell to accelerate the development of such paradigm-changing interventions and to ensure that these innovations, if proven safe and effective, are available in low- and middle-income countries as soon as possible.
“This long-acting technology offers an exciting new avenue in the fight against malaria, and this licence is key to allow rapid access to innovation for those who need it most.”
Christophe Douat, CEO of MedinCell, said: “Collaboration and innovation are key to face major global health challenges. Bringing together the best players to move this project forward is crucial to ensure that this innovative product based on our long-acting injectable technology, if proven safe and effective, can have a positive impact for the affected population.
“We are delighted to join forces with MPP which could play an essential role in enabling rapid and global access to this new complementary tool to fight the malaria scourge.”
Under the terms of the licence, manufacturing can be carried out in any country worldwide, for distribution in low and middle-income countries.
Now at a pre-clinical stage, the product is based on BEPO, a MedinCell polymer-based injectable technology that enables the sustained release of ivermectin after a single injection administered subcutaneously at the beginning of the malaria transmission season to people living in malaria-endemic areas.
Mosquitoes feeding on persons having received ivermectin injections will be killed or made less capable of transmitting malaria parasites further.
Through this community-based intervention, the individual receiving the injection will not be protected against malaria directly. But the number of mosquitoes would decrease, benefiting the whole community by lowering the risk of transmission of malaria, particularly in children.
If proven safe, effective and acceptable, this long-acting injectable candidate could have a significant impact on transmission of malaria among vulnerable populations in high-transmission areas.
Unitaid is funding both MedinCell to develop long-acting antimalarial products and MPP to facilitate generic production of the new technologies without delay.
Philippe Duneton, executive director of Unitaid, said: “In the fight against malaria, there is no time to lose. We know that, if proven safe and effective, this long-acting malaria prevention will hold tremendous potential. By supporting development and access pathways simultaneously, Unitaid is investing on all fronts to fast-track access to new malaria fighting tools,” said
The licensing agreement covers all low- and middle-income countries and is royalty-free in the public sector, with reasonable royalty in line with industry standards to be agreed in case there would be a private market for the licensed product in low and middle- income countries.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 16 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, four long-acting technologies, two oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 12 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).
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