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Over 300,000 messages of support help realise creation of UNITAID’s patent pool

Great news: thanks in no small part to the participation of thousands of individuals in the Make It Happen Campaign, UNITAID has announced the creation of the Patent Pool for AIDS medicines.  The success of this campaign would not have been possible without your support, thank you!!

As the UNITAID Board gathered to decide whether to go ahead and set up the patent pool on 14 December, over 300,000 emails, as well as thousands of letters from MSF offices and field programmes had been sent directly to CEOs and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry as a part of the Make it Happen Campaign. The e-action platform launched in 14 countries in nine languages, and in two months empowered individuals to actively support the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide by demanding that pharmaceutical companies put their patents in the pool.

The UNITAID Board has now decided to set up and fund the licensing agency that will run the Pool. Once this agency is established, formal negotiations with drug companies can begin.

The Patent Pool must benefit patients in all developing countries

The Patent Pool’s success will be judged on its ability to meet public health needs. Critical to meeting these needs will be guaranteeing that patients in countries categorised as ‘middle-income’ are not excluded from the Pool’s benefits.

MSF previously voiced its concern that pharmaceutical companies were seeking to exclude middle-income countries from benefiting from the Pool. The UNITAID Board re-affirmed its commitment to all developing countries, including those classified as ‘middle-income’ during discussions, however as the Patent Pool will be voluntary, its ultimate success will depend on the willingness of patent holders to put their patents in the pool and agree to allow these countries to benefit.

We’ll need your support to help keep the pressure up on the patent holders, and ensure the Patent Pool fulfils its potential for people living with HIV and AIDS.

"Now that the pool has been given a green light, patent holders need to move from expressions of general support to firm and formal licence commitments," said Michelle Childs.

Although the Patent Pool provides a new, additional option for improving access to medicines, MSF remains committed to supporting a variety of tools including compulsory licensing and patent oppositions.

We will be closely tracking the evolution of the Patent Pool in the coming months, and look forward to keeping you informed on critical milestones as they occur.

Thank you again for your vital and timely support!