Déclaration de l’OMS et d’Unitaid sur l’accord de licence du MPP pour le molnupiravir

Geneva, 27 October 2021 – WHO and Unitaid welcome the signing of a voluntary licensing agreement by the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and MSD to facilitate affordable access to molnupiravir, a new medicine being tested in clinical trials for treating COVID-19 in adults.

Molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral medicine, was reported to reduce the risk of hospitalization in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 by 50% in interim phase III clinical trials. It is currently being evaluated for inclusion into the WHO living guideline on COVID-19 therapeutics and is pending authorization for its use from regulatory bodies. If approved, it will be the first oral medicine for non-hospitalized mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients.

The MPP/MSD licensing agreement is a positive step towards creating broader access to the treatment as quickly as possible by allowing generic licensees from around the world to prepare supplies and create more affordable versions of the medicine, pending WHO recommendations and other regulatory authorizations. This will shorten the time from approval of the medicine to its availability in the 105 low- and middle-income countries covered by the licence and where there is no patent infringement and licensed know-how has not been used. We hope the company will include other key countries in the scope of the agreement in the near future.

We commend MPP for negotiating the licence from a public health perspective – in line with WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) principles, it is non-exclusive and transparent.

We urge the manufacturer to provide data of clinical trials to WHO as soon as possible, so that the agency can evaluate the medicine for global use.

Other companies developing vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics should consider open and transparent licences as soon as possible, especially for other promising COVID-19 health technologies, for which we also need to ensure broad supply and affordability in all countries in order to end the pandemic. Both the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) and C-TAP, in partnership with MPP, are working to facilitate such licences, and look forward to an open dialogue with relevant developers.

About Unitaid
Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

About WHO

The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States across six regions, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being.

For updates on COVID-19 and public health advice to protect yourself from coronavirus, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, and Twitch.

About the ACT-Accelerator

The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is a global coalition of organizations developing and deploying the new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines needed to end the acute phase of the pandemic. Pooling the expertise of its many partners, the ACT-Accelerator has quickly ushered in rapid, affordable tests and effective medicines, and established the COVAX facility for the equitable procurement and distribution of vaccines in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Media contacts

For more information and media requests:

WHO Media inquiries

Telephone: +41 22 791 2222

Email: mediainquiries@who.int

Unitaid

Maggie Zander

Mobile: +41 79 593 17 74

Email: zanderm@unitaid.who.int

Déclaration d’Unitaid sur le molnupiravir dans le traitement des formes légères et modérées de COVID-19

Geneva, 1 October 2021 – Unitaid, on behalf of partners in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, welcomes today’s announcement on molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral medicine for treatment of mild and moderate COVID-19. Interim Phase 3 clinical trial results show that molnupiravir significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by approximately 50 percent when given in the early stages of infection.

“Effective, simple to use, oral treatments that can avert the progression to severe illness are exactly the kind of breakthroughs we need to get the pandemic under control. Deployed alongside vaccines, such medicines could drive down hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid.

Such a treatment could fundamentally change the response to the pandemic, enabling integrated test-and-care strategies when deployed together with appropriate diagnostic tests.

Anticipating the possibility of a recommendation supporting use, Unitaid and ACT Accelerator partners are working to secure volumes of oral, outpatient treatment to ensure rapid access for people in low- and middle-income countries.

ACT Accelerator strategic priorities reflect the activities and funding needed to support an effective, oral treatment for mild and moderate COVID-19, which could directly benefit over 100m patients in low and middle-income countries. Access planning is key to ensure adequate supply and rapid deployment of effective tools. This announcement stresses the need for additional funding for tests and treatment, and the activities needed to make them available as rapidly as possible in all countries.

ACT Accelerator partners’ work is focused on closing the equity gap and ensuring that new tools can benefit people affected by COVID-19, no matter where they live. Fully funding the work of the ACT Accelerator Therapeutics and Diagnostics Pillars will ensure the latest treatments reach all countries where they are needed.

About Unitaid
Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

About the ACT-Accelerator

The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is a global coalition of organizations developing and deploying the new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines needed to end the acute phase of the pandemic. Pooling the expertise of its many partners, the ACT-Accelerator has quickly ushered in rapid, affordable tests and effective medicines, and established the COVAX facility for the equitable procurement and distribution of vaccines in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Media contact

Hervé Verhoosel, Unitaid, Geneva | verhooselh@unitaid.who.int | tel. +44 77 29 618 634

Maggie Zander, Unitaid, Geneva | zanderm@unitaid.who.int | tel. +41 79 593 17 74

Déclaration d’Unitaid sur la recommandation du casirivimab/imdevimab pour le traitement de la COVID-19

Genève, 24 septembre 2021 – Unitaid se félicite des directives de l’OMS publiées aujourd’hui recommandant l’utilisation de la combinaison de deux anticorps monoclonaux pour le traitement des patients ambulatoires et des patients hospitalisés atteints de la COVID-19.

La nécessité de disposer de traitements efficaces contre la COVID-19 n’a jamais été aussi grande, de nombreux pays dans le monde étant confrontés à des flambées de cas dues au variant Delta et à d’autres variants. Ces flambées ont un impact particulièrement dévastateur sur les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire, dont l’accès aux vaccins reste limité.

Un accès mondial et équitable aux nouveaux outils de lutte contre la COVID-19 est crucial si nous voulons que les progrès durement acquis dans la lutte contre la pandémie puissent atteindre tous ceux qui peuvent en bénéficier. Nous devons maintenant voir comment les produits nouvellement recommandés peuvent atteindre leur plein potentiel dans tous les contextes, y compris dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire.

Avec ce traitement nouvellement recommandé, Unitaid note plusieurs défis en matière de faisabilité dont une offre sévèrement limitée et un bénéfice faible pour les patients non hospitalisés sauf pour ceux qui sont les plus à risque, ainsi que le détaillent les directives. Les critères d’attribution de l’OMS seront essentiels pour aider à identifier des personnes susceptibles de bénéficier de ce traitement. Un don initial proposé par Roche/Regeneron qui sera géré par l’UNICEF, pourrait aider à répondre aux besoins immédiats et à garantir que le casirivimab/imdevimab atteigne les personnes qui pourraient en bénéficier dans tous les pays. Cependant, un don limité – à lui seul – ne suffit pas à garantir un accès équitable et mondial aux traitements contre la COVID-19 qui sauvent des vies. Des engagements plus larges en matière d’accès sont nécessaires pour garantir que les conditions de prix et d’approvisionnement permettent à ce produit d’atteindre toutes les personnes, quel que soit leur lieu de résidence.

L’introduction rapide de nouveaux traitements, ainsi que de tests appropriés pour guider leur utilisation, sauvera des vies et ouvrira la voie à l’accès à une gamme plus large de thérapeutiques, au fur et à mesure de leur disponibilité. Unitaid attend avec impatience les produits les mieux adaptés aux besoins des pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire et de tous les pays confrontés à des flambées, où les systèmes de santé sont actuellement débordés. Les partenaires du Dispositif pour accélérer l’accès aux outils de lutte contre la COVID-19 (Accélérateur ACT) sont prêts à travailler avec l’industrie pour faire de l’accès mondial et équitable une réalité pour tous.

À propos d’Unitaid

Unitaid est une agence de santé mondiale qui s’emploie à trouver des solutions innovantes pour prévenir, diagnostiquer et traiter les maladies plus rapidement, plus efficacement et à moindre coût dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire. Elle finance notamment des initiatives visant à lutter contre de grandes maladies telles que le VIH/SIDA, le paludisme et la tuberculose, mais aussi contre les co-infections et comorbidités liées au VIH, comme le cancer du col de l’utérus et l’hépatite C. L’organisation soutient en outre des projets qui ciblent des domaines transversaux, tels que le traitement de la fièvre. En tant qu’acteur clé du Dispositif pour accélérer l’accès aux outils de lutte contre la COVID-19, Unitaid mobilise désormais son expertise pour répondre aux défis posés par le développement de nouvelles thérapies et de nouveaux diagnostics pour lutter contre la pandémie de COVID-19. Unitaid est un partenariat hébergé par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé.

Contact pour les médias

Pour plus d’informations ou pour des demandes des médias, veuillez contacter :

Hervé Verhoosel, Unitaid, Genève | verhooselh@unitaid.who.int | tél. +44 77 29 618 634

Maggie Zander, Unitaid, Genève | zanderm@unitaid.who.int | tél. +41 79 660 56 37

Déclaration conjointe d’Unitaid et de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (au nom du Dispositif pour accélérer l’accès aux outils de lutte contre la COVID-19) concernant la disponibilité du tocilizumab

Geneva – WHO and Unitaid are concerned by Roche’s statement yesterday, warning of a global shortage of tocilizumab (brand name Actemra/RoActemra), an IL6 inhibitor WHO recommended in June for use as a treatment for severe COVID-19 cases. Tocilizumab can play a key role in decreasing mortality and reducing need for invasive mechanical ventilation among severely ill patients, when delivered alongside oxygen and corticosteroids.

While we welcome and acknowledge that Roche has announced measures to address the shortage, we call on the company to ensure equitable allocation of current stocks of this medicine for all countries, including low- and middle-income countries.

We also strongly encourage Roche to facilitate technology transfer and knowledge and data sharing to broaden access to this important treatment.

The ACT-A partnership Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator partners are working with Roche to set up channels for distribution of tocilizumab in places where it is not yet in use, as part of their effort to support roll-out of effective new therapeutic products for COVID-19.

In addition, WHO has issued a call for Expression of Interest to its Prequalification programme to expand the number of quality-assured manufacturers of the drug and thus to increase global supplies.

WHO and Unitaid remain committed to ensuring equitable access to medicines for treating patients with severe COVID-19 as a vital element of the effort to fight the pandemic everywhere and save lives.

 

Unitaid and the World Health Organization

About Unitaid
Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

 

About WHO

The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States across six regions, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being.

For updates on COVID-19 and public health advice to protect yourself from coronavirus, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, and Twitch.

 

About the ACT-Accelerator

The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is a global coalition of organizations developing and deploying the new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines needed to end the acute phase of the pandemic. Pooling the expertise of its many partners, the ACT-Accelerator has quickly ushered in rapid, affordable tests and effective medicines, and established the COVAX facility for the equitable procurement and distribution of vaccines in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Media contact

WHO Media Team: mediainquiries@who.int

Hervé Verhoosel, Head of Communications, Unitaid: verhooselh@unitaid.who.int

FIND et Unitaid investissent pour appuyer le transfert technologique et stimuler la production locale de tests rapides de diagnostic de la COVID-19 dans les pays à revenus faibles ou intermédiaires

  • Technology transfer agreements signed to enable expanded production of high-quality antigen rapid tests in Africa and Latin America
  • Agreements signed with DCN Dx to transfer know-how to WAMA Diagnóstica (Brazil), and Bionote and Mologic to transfer know-how to DIATROPIX of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (Senegal)
  • Separate partnership between Viatris (South Africa) and Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech (China) supported to enable commercialization and distribution of high-quality Ag RDTs in low- and middle-income countries
  • Agreements follow open call launched last year by FIND and Unitaid on behalf of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, to drive equitable access to rapid tests for COVID-19

Geneva, 15 July 2021 – Local manufacturing of COVID-19 rapid tests in Africa and Latin America will be dramatically expanded, thanks to investment from FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, and Unitaid.

Following a call for Expressions of Interest launched under the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT)-Accelerator Diagnostics Pillar, contracts have now been finalized to drive equitable access to fit-for-purpose antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag RDTs) for COVID-19.

The pandemic has exposed how fragile health systems and an exclusive reliance on global supply chains leave many countries without access to the tests they need to control COVID-19. Today, high-income countries are testing people for COVID-19 over 60 times more than low-income countries.[1] Expanded production capacity in local and regional hubs is critical to ensuring that healthcare providers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can implement effective testing strategies to contain the spread of the virus.

Agreements have been signed to support collaborations between Xixia Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Viatris) and Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech (Wondfo), DCN Dx, and WAMA Diagnóstica, and DIATROPIX of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Bionote, and Mologic.

FIND and Unitaid are supporting the creation of a Centre of Excellence at DCN Dx to facilitate RDT technology transfer to LMIC manufacturers. WAMA Diagnóstica, based in Brazil, is the first of these, and will supply the Latin America and Caribbean region. Test volumes are expected to reach 2 million tests per month, with a ceiling price of US$2.00 (ex-works).

To serve the African continent, DIATROPIX of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal is being supported to scale up manufacturing of Ag RDTs transferred from Mologic and Bionote. Through this support, diaTROPIX will seek regulatory authorization for the transferred tests and commercialize them under its own brand, with the aim of reaching 2.5 million tests per month by 2022, at prices ranging from US$2.50 to US$2.00 (ex-works) with a view to further reductions in the near future.

In a further boost to testing capacity in LMICs, FIND and Unitaid announce that Wondfo, based in Guangzhou, China, is teaming up with Viatris (operating through its subsidiary Xixia Pharmaceuticals based in Gauteng, South Africa) to bring its low-cost Ag RDTs to market in LMICs. This partnership between a high-volume manufacturer and a distributor with global reach has the potential to produce 144 million tests per year, at a ceiling price of US$2.50 (ex-works).

Recently released WHO guidance on national SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies emphasises the important role of high-quality Ag RDTs. They remain the primary diagnostic test for detection of active SARS-CoV-2 infection in decentralized settings where timely molecular testing is not available.

Marta Fernández Suárez, Senior Director of R&D at FIND, said: “Scaling up testing capacity in LMICs is one of our highest priorities. The expression of interest (EOI) process has enabled us to identify partnerships that we believe can have a great impact in key regions that are of critical importance to the pandemic and potentially beyond, to help ensure that everyone who needs a test can get one.”

Vincent Bretin, Director of Results at Unitaid, said: “Increasing the capacity of local and regional hubs to produce COVID-19 tests will be vital if we are to ensure truly equitable access to this crucial tool. Currently the vast majority of rapid tests being used in low- and middle-income countries are manufactured in just two countries in one region, so these agreements are an important step in ensuring that countries are equipped to detect cases of COVID-19, helping contain outbreaks and bringing a swifter end to the pandemic.”

Announcement of these agreements follows a technical workshop on local production of diagnostics in LMICs, hosted by the World Health Organization, UNDP and FIND, to contribute to the ongoing development of comprehensive and practical measures to catalyse and sustain production of diagnostics in these countries. More details and a recording of the meeting is available here.

[1] Median values of 7-day rolling averages in each income group, as reported by countries. Data correct as at 30 June 2021, www.finddx.org/covid-19/test-tracker

About the expression of interest (EOI)

The EOI was launched on 4 July 2020 by FIND and Unitaid, on behalf of the R&D and Digital and the Market Readiness Working Groups of the ACT-Accelerator Diagnostics Pillar. It aims to accelerate supply and availability of quality-assured and regulatory-approved fit-for-purpose SARS-CoV-2 Ag RDTs that meet WHO criteria of quality, cost and accessibility. Interventions include accelerating late-stage product development and optimization, facilitating technology transfer activities, conducting performance evaluation studies to support regulatory submissions, increasing production capacity, addressing supply chain challenges, and strengthening local capacity for development and deployment of new tests within national testing strategies. Driving down prices and supporting the use of less invasive specimens to enable faster LMIC uptake are also critical. Over 100 applications were received, with 34 selected for review by a panel of external experts. A first collaboration with Premier Medical Corporation in India was announced earlier this year.

 

About FIND

FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, seeks to ensure equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We connect countries and communities, funders, decision-makers, healthcare providers and developers to spur diagnostic innovation and make testing an integral part of sustainable, resilient health systems. We are working to save 1 million lives through accessible, quality diagnosis, and save US$1 billion in healthcare costs to patients and health systems. We are co-convener of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator diagnostics pillar, and a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation. For more information, please visit www.finddx.org.

 

About Unitaid
Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

 

About the ACT-Accelerator

The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is a global coalition of organizations developing and deploying the new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines needed to end the acute phase of the pandemic. Pooling the expertise of its many partners, the ACT-Accelerator has quickly ushered in rapid, affordable tests and effective medicines, and established the COVAX facility for the equitable procurement and distribution of vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.

The ACT Accelerator’s work is more vital than ever as new variants of the virus threaten to resist current COVID-19 tools, posing the risk of more death, illness, and social and economic harm. The ACT-Accelerator has four areas of work, or pillars:

A workstream on access and allocation of COVID-19 products, hosted by WHO, cuts across the four pillars.

The ACT Accelerator partnership was formed at the onset of the pandemic in response to a call from G20 leaders, and was launched by WHO, the European Commission, France, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Critical funding for the effort comes from an unprecedented mobilization of donors, including countries, the private sector, philanthropists and multilateral partners. It has supported the fastest, most coordinated, and successful global effort in history to develop tools to fight a disease.

Media contacts

FIND

Sarah-Jane Loveday

Director of Communications

media@finddx.org | +41 79 431 62 44

 

Unitaid

Hervé Verhoosel

Director a.i. External Relations and Communication

verhooselh@unitaid.who.int | tel. +44 77 29 618 634

 

Unitaid

Maggie Zander

Communications Officer

zanderm@unitaid.who.int | tel. +41 79 593 17 74

Déclaration d’Unitaid à propos des recommandations de l’OMS sur le tocilizumab et le sarilumab

Geneva, 7 July 2021 – Unitaid welcomes new recommendations released by the World Health Organisation for the clinical care package for patients with severe or critical COVID-19, adding two medicines (tocilizumab and sarilumab). Having more treatment options is clearly of huge benefit, especially given the current concerning epidemiological situation around the world.  

Equitable access arrangements for medicines to treat patients with advanced COVID-19, and those for earlier stages of the disease, are key to fighting the pandemic. Access to COVID-19 (ACT) Accelerator partners are ready to support effective new therapeutic products for COVID-19, and we would welcome further details from Roche and Sanofi, respectively, on their plans for broad, sustainable access to these medicines to treat COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries.  

In addition, these newly recommended medicines need to be used together with oxygen and corticosteroids, underlining the urgent need to increase access to medical oxygen and ensure adequate supplies of corticosteroids. The ACT-A Therapeutics pillar is already working to address this, with an advance purchase in 2020 of nearly 3 million doses of dexamethasone, and more recently the coordination of the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce. 

 

 

About Unitaid

Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

Une coopération inédite avec des fournisseurs d’oxygène mondiaux ouvre la voie à l’élargissement de l’accès des pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire aux outils de lutte contre la crise de la COVID-19

  • Agreement brokered by Unitaid and CHAI under the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce sees two of the world’s largest medical oxygen suppliers each collaborate with these ACT-Accelerator partners on increased access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
  • Two memoranda of understanding, one with Air Liquide and another with Linde, pave the way for increased oxygen supply in the context of COVID-19
  • Latest estimates show that around 1 million COVID-19 patients in LMICs need 2.2 million cylinders of oxygen per day

Geneva, 15 June 2021 – Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) are pleased to announce agreements[1] with Air Liquide and Linde respectively, which provide a pathway to increase access to medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical oxygen shortages around the world have been a tragic feature of the pandemic, impacting the poorest countries disproportionately. These access difficulties were entrenched in many parts of the world before COVID-19, and have been exacerbated by the pandemic, putting strain on fragile health systems and resulting in preventable deaths. Latest estimates[2] suggest that around 1 million critically-ill COVID-19 patients in low- and middle-income countries need 2.2 million oxygen cylinders (15.1 million cubic metres) a day at the moment, with concerning surges reported in several countries in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia.

The agreements come following intense engagement with the world’s major oxygen suppliers by the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce. This group of partners[3], led by Unitaid and Wellcome under the ACT-Accelerator Therapeutics pillar, has been working together over the past four months to address the global oxygen crisis, building on the strong track record of the agencies involved. This unprecedented collaboration with industry aims to overcome fundamental issues such as unstable funding commitments and insufficient infrastructure, which have limited the availability of medical oxygen.

Under the two memoranda of understanding signed with Air Liquide and Linde, each company has committed to work with ACT-A global health partners to facilitate equitable access to oxygen in a number of priority countries, to meet the emergency needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. The collaboration with each supplier also aims to build a framework for local contractual agreements – in line with standard public procurement practices – which could form the basis of longer-term purchasing deals by governments and global agencies that fund access to medical oxygen, to avoid a shortage of supply as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carl Bildt, WHO Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) and former Prime Minister of Sweden said: “Without a much improved supply of oxygen we will see the global numbers of people dying from COVID rising even faster. That’s why an improved public-private partnership is so necessary, and the role of industry is absolutely essential. I know from experience that it is a powerful combination when governments, multilaterals, and the private sector work together to solve massive issues. These pioneering oxygen agreements are urgently needed to save lives.”

Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, said: “We welcome the engagement from Air Liquide and Linde. This is the first time such an agreement has been made to help facilitate equitable access to oxygen, an essential, lifesaving medicine. We hope that other oxygen suppliers will now follow suit and come to the table. There is a real opportunity to change the course of history – both for the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other areas where medical oxygen is so vital but has been often lacking, including pneumonia control, treating women who develop complications in childbirth and trauma patients.”

Under this initiative, Unitaid and CHAI, together with the Oxygen Emergency Taskforce partners, will seek to mobilise resources to fund medical oxygen storage and infrastructure, pay for emergency supplies, and finance the transportation of equipment and other tools needed for safe, resilient medical oxygen systems. Market interventions including advance purchase commitments and guarantees could form part of this package of measures. An estimated $400 million is needed immediately to enable this vital work to take place.

The Taskforce is also working to address supply shortages for other vital commodities, including oxygen concentrators and pressure swing absorption (PSA) plants, and connect countries to sources of financing for oxygen requests, including the Global Fund’s C-19 RM mechanism and the World Bank’s COVID-19 emergency health response.

Zachary Katz, Vice President of Essential Medicines at CHAI, said: “These agreements pave the way for wider use of medical oxygen at a time when the world continues to suffer acute shortages. We applaud Air Liquide and Linde and look forward to working together to expand access to oxygen to those most in need.”

Jean-Marc de Royere, Senior Vice President and member of the Air Liquide Group Executive Committee in charge of social programs, said: “Striving to improve oxygen access in LMICs is an integral part of our sustainable development commitments announced in March 2021. Today’s announcement is also in line with Air Liquide teams’ mobilisation since the beginning of the pandemic in the countries where the Group operates. Leveraging on its technical expertise and know-how, the Group will work along with Unitaid and CHAI, contributing to solutions to increase oxygen access in LMICs countries where demand is high and operational conditions are challenging.”

Sanjiv Lamba, Chief Operating Officer at Linde, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of access to healthcare for all. Linde’s employees stepped up in these extraordinary times to produce and deliver medical oxygen, playing a critical role in supporting healthcare systems across the world. All these efforts will be in vain if we cannot work together to improve access to medical oxygen in low and moderate income countries, overcoming the many challenges. Linde is proud to partner with Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative and we look forward to working together to increase access to oxygen on a fair and equitable basis.”

[1] These agreements, in the form of non-binding Memoranda of Understanding, have been entered into on a non-exclusive basis. Agreements with other medical oxygen suppliers are being pursued.

[2] https://www.path.org/programs/market-dynamics/covid-19-oxygen-needs-tracker/

[3] Partner organisations include Unitaid, Wellcome, WHO (and the biomedical consortium it coordinates), Unicef, The Global Fund, the World Bank, UNOPS, the Every Breath Counts coalition, CHAI, PATH, Save the Children, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Access to Medicine Foundation.

Background notes
Even before COVID-19, pneumonia was the world’s biggest infectious killer of adults and children, claiming the lives of 2.5 million people in 2019. The pandemic has exacerbated this problem, particularly in ‘double-burden’ countries which are contending with high levels of pneumonia and COVID-19. As well as meeting the immediate needs of the pandemic, the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce would look to leverage gains in this area to help with long-term pneumonia control.

About the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce
The COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce was launched in February 2021 to bring together key partners already working to address critical oxygen gaps, as part of a coordinated COVID-19 response. The taskforce is co-led by Unitaid and Wellcome, under the Therapeutics Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Partner organisations include Unitaid, Wellcome, the World Health Organization (and the biomedical consortium it coordinates), UNICEF, The Global Fund, the World Bank, UNOPS, the Every Breath Counts coalition, CHAI, PATH, Save the Children, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Access to Medicine Foundation.

About Unitaid
Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

About CHAI
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organisation committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. CHAI works with its partners to help strengthen the capabilities of governments and local private sectors to create and sustain high-quality health systems. For more information, please visit: clintonhealthaccess.org.

Media contacts
Hervé Verhoosel, Unitaid, Geneva | verhooselh@unitaid.who.int | tel. +44 77 29 618 634

Maggie Zander, Unitaid, Geneva | zanderm@unitaid.who.int | tel. +41 79 593 17 74

Regan Lachapelle, CHAI, Boston | rlachapelle@clintonhealthaccess.org | tel. +1 857-208-2788

Déclaration d’Unitaid sur le soutien américain à la dérogation de propriété intellectuelle pour les vaccins contre la COVID-19

Genève, le 6 mai 2021 –

Unitaid se félicite de la décision du gouvernement des États-Unis de soutenir une dérogation aux protections relatives à la propriété intellectuelle pour les vaccins contre la COVID-19.

Il s’agit d’une avancée importante en faveur l’accès équitable dans le contexte des négociations actuelles menées au sein du Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce (ADPIC) de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC). Nous félicitons le président Joe Biden, la vice-présidente Kamala Harris et l’ambassadrice Katherine Tai pour leur leadership.

Au-delà des vaccins, il est nécessaire d’assurer un accès élargi à tous les outils de lutte contre la COVID-19 – y compris les traitements – pour les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire en Afrique, en Asie et en Amérique latine, qui supportent aujourd’hui le plus lourd fardeau de la pandémie.

Outre la renonciation aux droits de propriété intellectuelle, le transfert de technologie constitue un enjeu crucial, afin que les fabricants puissent bénéficier du savoir-faire nécessaire pour augmenter rapidement la production. Cet enjeu est tout aussi crucial s’agissant des produits thérapeutiques tels que les anticorps monoclonaux, qui pourraient constituer un outil important dans la réponse à la pandémie de COVID-19.

La crise actuelle, caractérisée par une augmentation du nombre de cas de COVID-19, l’apparition de nouveaux variants et d’importantes limites à l’approvisionnement en oxygène, appelle une action d’urgence tant au niveau national qu’à l’échelle mondiale. Nous encourageons la communauté internationale à se mobiliser afin de s’assurer que les outils de lutte contre la COVID-19 soient mis à la disposition de tous, partout.

Marisol Touraine, Présidente du Conseil d’administration d’Unitaid

Philippe Duneton, Directeur exécutif d’Unitaid

____________________

 A propos d’Unitaid

Unitaid est une agence de santé mondiale qui s’emploie à trouver des solutions innovantes pour prévenir, diagnostiquer et traiter les maladies plus rapidement, plus efficacement et à moindre coût dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire. Elle soutient des initiatives visant à lutter contre de grandes maladies telles que le VIH/SIDA, le paludisme et la tuberculose, mais aussi contre les co-infections et comorbidités liées au VIH, comme le cancer du col de l’utérus et l’hépatite C. L’organisation soutient en outre des projets ciblant des domaines transversaux, tels que le traitement de la fièvre. En tant qu’acteur clé de l’Accélérateur d’accès aux outils de lutte contre la COVID-19, Unitaid mobilise désormais son expertise pour répondre aux défis posés par le développement de nouvelles thérapies et de nouveaux diagnostics pour lutter contre la pandémie. Unitaid est hébergé par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Hervé Verhoosel | verhooselh@unitaid.who.int | +44 77 29 618 634