GSK is considering submitting patents on future cancer drugs it develops to the United Nation’s Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), in an effort to address “the increasing burden of cancer in developing countries.” The MPP negotiates large scale licensing agreements between drug developers and multiple generics manufacturers — enabling greater access to medicines for a larger group of up to 127 developing countries. ” The patents pool was established in 2010 and has proved successful in accelerating access to treatments such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C through voluntary licensing arrangements, which allow generic versions of GSK’s drugs to be made and distributed in poorer countries. Expanding the pool to include cancer drugs will “add to the wider contribution GSK makes to improve access to effective healthcare around the world”, the company said.
GSK announced that it will stop filing for patents in 50 least developed and low income countries. But it will file patent protection in an additional 35 lower middle-income countries. The company will then grant licenses for ten years in exchange for seeking a “small royalty for sales in those countries.” GSK stated “the changes we are setting out aim to make it as clear and simple as possible for generic manufacturers to make and supply versions of GSK medicines.”
GSK will continue to seek full patent protection in richer parts of the world.
