MPP to make hep C drug affordable for low and middle income countries
The agreement will allow for the manufacture of generic RAV by several suppliers. According to MMP the aim is to create an affordable supply of Hep C treatments to low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
The licencing and technology transfer agreement for RAV, an NS5A inhibitor, is subject to the successful development of the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) currently in a Phase III trial.
“If successfully developed, ravidasvir could help treat millions of hepatitis C patients,” said MPP Executive Director, Greg Perry.
Availability
MPP said RAV has the potential to work across all six Hep C genotypes, which is imperative for LMICs lacking in diagnostic technologies.
“In addition, the MPP licence allows sub-licensees to sell RAV in countries where there are no patents in force, potentially speeding the introduction of low-cost RAV to many more countries”, MPP told In-PharmaTechnologist.
The MPP-Pharco license agreement for RAV is royalty-bearing over net sales in the licenced territories, ranging from four percent in low-income countries and seven percent for middle-income nations.
Pharco Pharmaceuticals is foregoing all royalties for paediatric formulations.
Affordability
Current, effective hepatitis drugs include Gilead’s Sovaldi and Harvoni, which cost approximately £416 (€490) per pill.
The new agreement will enable a broader coverage of RAV, including low- and middle-income countries such as Russia, Ethiopia and Iran.
Pharco Pharmaceuticals aims to eradicate Hep C in Egypt, where it is headquartered, by 2010 and globally by 2030.
