GENEVA, November 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
The royalty-free agreement allows manufacturers to develop daclatasvir for 112 low- and middle-income countries
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) today announced its first licence for a hepatitis C medicine, signing an agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb for daclatasvir, a novel direct-acting antiviral that is proven to help cure multiple genotypes of the HCV virus. The royalty-free licence will enable generic manufacture of daclatasvir for sale in 112 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 76 of which are World Bank classified middle-income nations. Nearly two-thirds of all patients living with hepatitis C in
Hepatitis C is a major public health threat affecting up to 150 million people globally, with the vast majority living in low- and middle-income countries. Earlier this year the World Health Organization added several new hepatitis C treatments, including daclatasvir, to its Essential Medicines List, underscoring the urgent need to promote equitable access to innovative medicines.
"This agreement could change the lives of millions of people with hepatitis C," said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "It's a vital step towards ensuring essential treatments are available to all who need them, both rich and poor."
Labels: BMS, daclatasvir, Medicines Patent Pool