Medicines Patent Pool Inks Deal With 35 Companies for Generic Paxlovid

The United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has signed agreements with 35 companies to manufacture generic versions of Pfizer’s COVID-19 therapeutic Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir).

The deals follow a licensing agreement between Pfizer and the Medicines Patent Pool struck in November 2021, aimed at supplying the drug to 95 developing countries that account for 53 percent of the global population.

Under the agreement, local domestic manufacturers will be allowed to produce the raw ingredients to make generic versions of Paxlovid. The companies are located in a dozen countries — Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Jordan, India, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Serbia, Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

Of the 35 companies, six will produce the drug substance, nine will manufacturer the drug product and the rest will do both, MPP said.