Recent news
July 2011
Medicines Patent Pool announces HIV/AIDS drug agreement
July 12, 2011 -- The Medicines Patent Pool and pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences have announced a breakthrough license agreement that will allow the production of HIV/AIDS medicines at lower cost and in easier-to-use formulations, making them more accessible to developing countries. “Today marks a milestone in managing patents for public health,” Medicines Patent Pool Executive Director Ellen ‘t Hoen said, adding, “People in developing countries often have to wait for years before they can access new health technologies. Today’s agreement changed that.”
The agreement covers all patents related to 5 drugs, some of which are still in the research pipeline. Under the agreement, Gilead will receive royalties of 5 percent of generic sales, with royalties waived for any new pediatric formulations. “We believe the Pool is an innovative mechanism to increase access to patented medicines in a way that works for the pharmaceutical industry and people living with HIV,” Gregg Alton, executive vice president for corporate and medical affairs at Gilead, said. See the links below for more information.
- Intellectual Property Watch
- Press release
- White House Office of Science and Technology Policy blog post
