NIH COVID-19 deal broadens access for poorer nations

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) have signed a deal aiming to open up new technologies to people living in poorer countries.

The agreement, signed this month,will see MPP and C-TAP work with the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop new therapeutics, early-stage vaccines and diagnostic tools for COVID-19.

The agreement covers 11 technologies under two licences, including the stabilised spike protein used in currently available COVID-19 vaccines; research tools for vaccine; therapeutic and diagnostic development; and early-stage vaccine candidates and diagnostics.

The licences are “transparent, global and non-exclusive” and will allow manufacturers globally to work with MPP and C-TAP to help make these technologies accessible to people living in low and middle-income countries, said the groups.

“I welcome the generous contribution NIH has made to C-TAP and its example of solidarity and sharing,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.

“Whether it’s today’s pandemic or tomorrow’s health emergency, it’s through sharing and empowering lower-income countries to manufacture their own health tools that we can ensure a healthier future for everyone.”

Charles Gore, MPP executive director, added: “We are honoured to sign these public health-driven licence agreements with NIH under the auspices of C-TAP with the goal of providing equitable access to life-saving health products for the most vulnerable in the world.”

Under the agreement, the NIH will not collect royalties on sales of products licensed in 49 countries classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries.

The full list of the NIH COVID-19 technologies covered in the agreement can be found on the MPP website.

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