Understanding the recent development in the pharmaceutical industry, attention is drawn towards the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-supported group. This group has entered into sub-license agreements with three Indian companies to make cancer drugs more affordable and accessible for patients worldwide. The agreement permits the production of generic versions of Novartis’ cancer drug Nilotinib, specifically used to treat Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML). This license covers India, seven middle-income nations, and 44 territories, subject to local regulatory approval.
An Overview of Medicines Patent Pool
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a public health organization, supported by the United Nations. It was established in July 2010 and has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The MPP works predominantly to enhance access to life-saving medicines in low and middle-income countries.
The organization collaborates with civil society, governments, international organizations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders. Their primary function is to license crucial medicines and pool intellectual property which aids the generic manufacture and development of new formulations.
To date, the MPP has entered into agreements with twelve patent holders for various medical treatments and technologies. These include thirteen antiretrovirals for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), one HIV technology platform, three antivirals for Hepatitis C, a Tuberculosis treatment, a long-acting technology, two experimental oral antiviral treatments for Covid-19, and a Covid-19 serological antibody technology.
Understanding Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells and bone marrow. It is one of the various types of leukaemia, including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
CML is characterized by the unregulated growth of abnormal myeloid cells, a type of white blood cell. The progression of this disease is typically slow, and it is frequently diagnosed during the chronic phase.
Diagnosis of CML requires a series of blood tests and bone marrow examination. In conclusion, the recent agreement between MPP and Indian companies is a substantial step towards making crucial cancer treatment more accessible for patients worldwide. This licence allows for the mass production of generic versions of Novartis’ Nilotinib, a drug primarily used to treat CML. This aids in the global fight against cancer and can potentially change thousands of lives for the better.
