On the occasion of the World Health Assembly, the hybrid event, “Accelerating innovations and access to #bettermeds4kids: a spotlight on medicines for children” convened by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) on behalf of the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations (GAP-f) was held in Geneva. This event brought the experience from Member States, key stakeholders, and existing mechanisms that are effectively contributing to addressing paediatric medicine innovation and access challenges, aiming to contribute to mobilizing leadership around debates on clinical trials in forgotten populations and maternal, newborn and child health.
The objective of the session was to serve as the basis for continued advocacy by the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations (GAP-f) WHO network, strengthening high-level political attention on innovation and access to adapted paediatric medicines, reviving the 2016 WHA resolution 69.20 on “Promoting innovation and access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medicines for children” towards inclusion in the agenda of a future WHA.
More about the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations (GAP-f).
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The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 22 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.
MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Flanders. MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.