Pfizer signs antiviral COVID-19 licence with MPP
Pfizer is the latest pharmaceutical company to sign a licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to help increase access to its COVID-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate PAXLOVID (PF-07321332) for low and middle-income countries.
The agreement will allow the MPP to facilitate additional production and distribution of the treatment by allowing them to grant sub-licences to generic drug manufacturers, with the goal of increasing access to the drug.
The MPP hopes to supply PAXLOVID in combination with ritonavir to 95 countries, covering approximately 53% of the world’s population.
Pfizer will not receive royalties on sales in low-income countries and will waive royalties on sales in all countries covered by the agreement will COVID-19 remains classified as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” by the World Health Organisation.
Charles Gore, executive director of MPP said: “This licence is so important because, if authorized or approved, this oral drug is particularly well-suited for low- and middle-income countries and could play a critical role in saving lives, contributing to global efforts to fight the current pandemic.”
“PF-07321332 is to be taken together with ritonavir, an HIV medicine we know well, as we have had a licence on it for many years, and we will be working with generic companies to ensure there is enough supply for both COVID-19 and HIV.”
News of this agreement comes on the same day as Pfizer announced that it was seeking emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration for PAXLOVID. If granted, this would be the first oral antiviral of its kind that could be prescribed as an at-home treatment for high-risk patients.
Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO, Pfizer said: “We believe oral antiviral treatments can play a vital role in reducing the severity of COVID-19 infections, decreasing the strain on our healthcare systems and saving lives.
“We must work to ensure that all people—regardless of where they live or their circumstances—have access to these breakthroughs, and we are pleased to be able to work with MPP to further our commitment to equity.”
The MPP entered into its first COVID-19 licensing deal in October, announcing it had partnered with Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and others to increase access to molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801).
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