In a recent development, C-TAP has achieved three new licensing agreements, aiming to make essential COVID-19 tools accessible on a global scale. These have been facilitated in collaboration with MPP committed to improving access to vital medicines.
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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Clinical support technician Douglas Condie extracts viruses from swab samples so that the genetic structure of a virus can be analysed and identified in the coronavirus testing laboratory at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, on February 19, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Signing Three New Licensing Agreements
The COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) has recently entered into three new licensing agreements with the goal of providing COVID-19 tools to people worldwide, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
These agreements have been facilitated by the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-supported public health organization dedicated to enhancing access to and promoting the creation of critical medicines for nations with limited resources.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, emphasized the enduring presence of COVID-19 and the ongoing necessity for tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat the virus.
He underscored the commitment of WHO and its partners through C-TAP to ensure the widespread accessibility of these essential tools. Dr. Tedros also expressed gratitude for the leadership demonstrated by the license holders who have shared their technology.
These latest agreements encompass various critical components, including the patent and expertise related to a COVID-19 vaccine from Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp, which has been administered in over seven countries, totaling more than three million doses.
Additionally, a second license pertains to another COVID-19 vaccine prototype from the Spanish National Research Council. Lastly, the University of Chile contributes technology for a COVID-19 assay designed for quantifying neutralizing antibodies.
In 2020, Focus Taiwan reported that the WHO director-general and the president of Costa Rica inaugurated C-TAP, an initiative aimed at expediting access to COVID-19 health products that are both timely and affordable. As stated by the WHO, C-TAP enjoys support from 45 member states.
Receiving Praises
Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP, emphasized the ongoing importance of prioritizing access to critical medicines and healthcare technologies on the global health agenda, as stated by WHO on its press release.
He extended congratulations to Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp, CSIC, and the University of Chile for their licensing agreements with MPP, while expressing hope that their actions would serve as a meaningful example to encourage other originators worldwide to pursue additional licensing agreements.
The established agreements have garnered unanimous praise from all stakeholders due to their global reach, transparency, and non-exclusive nature. Charles Chen, CEO of Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp, stressed the significance of solidarity, cooperation, and global collaboration in effectively addressing pandemics.
He highlighted their commitment to equitable access to vaccine technology, emphasizing the importance of leaving no one behind, not only in the context of COVID-19 but also as a precedent for future global health challenges.
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Eloisa del Pino, President of CSIC, emphasized how this licensing agreement with C-TAP opens doors for potential partnerships in third countries to advance clinical trials with the vaccine, offering a promising alternative for licensed COVID vaccines, particularly in resource-constrained regions.
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