The offer of COVID-19 health technologies by NIH to C-TAP is welcomed by WHO and MPP

Key Takeaways:

• The WHO and the MPP applaud the US National Institutes of Health's announcement that several technologies will be offered to the C-TAP for possible licencing through MPP.

The WHO, as well as the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), applaud the announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States that several technologies will be offered to the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) for potential licensing through MPP. 

In the existence of WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and also NIAID Director as well as Chief Medical Advisor to President of the United States, Anthony Fauci, the declaration was made today at the US COVID-19 Dialogue with Ministers of Health.

"I am grateful to the National Institutes of Health for its offer of innovative COVID-19 therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostic methods," stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

"Voluntary technology sharing through non-exclusive agreements will not only aid in the eradication of the pandemic; it will also empower low- and middle-income nations to produce their medical products and also achieve equitable access."

"NIH was the 1st to share their patents for an HIV item with us when MPP was founded in 2010," stated Charles Gore, MPP Executive Director. "When the negotiations are finished, we will have the honor of signing public health-driven clear non-exclusive licensing deals with NIH under the auspices of C-TAP to offer access to these innovative technologies to individuals in need around the world and assist at the end of the pandemic," he says.

C-TAP was launched in 2020 by the WHO Director-General and the President of Costa Rica, with support from 43 Member States, to facilitate timely, equitable, and affordable access to COVID-19 health products through open, non-exclusive licensing agreements. MPP is in charge of licensing for this project and holds the necessary licenses.