WHO and MPP Announce COVID-19 Technology’s First Transparent, Global, Non-Exclusive Licence

On Wednesday, the WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) finalized a licensing agreement for COVID-19 serological antibody technology with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

The test effectively checks for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies developed either in response to a COVID-19 infection or a vaccine, according to a WHO statement.

This is the first transparent, global, non-exclusive COVID-19 health tool license, as well as the first test license signed by MPP and included in the WHO Pool.

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The license’s goal is to speed up the manufacturing and commercialization of CSIC’s COVID-19 serological test around the world. The agreement covers all related patents as well as the biological material required for the test’s production.

MPP and/or prospective licensees will receive all necessary know-how as well as training from CSIC. For low- and middle-income countries, the license will be royalty-free and will last until the last patent expires.

“This license demonstrates what we can accomplish when we put people at the center of our global and multilateral efforts,” said Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica, C-founding TAP’s country.

“It demonstrates that solidarity and equitable access are possible, and that it is worthwhile to continue to support the C-principles TAP’s of transparency, inclusion, and non-exclusivity.”

“Costa Rica applauds the signing of this license and believes that, now more than ever, mechanisms like C-TAP can help us overcome the current situation while also benefiting future health crises.” I applaud the Spanish government and CSIC for standing together and prioritizing health as a global public good.”

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“I applaud CSIC, a public research institute, for its commitment to solidarity and for making their technology and know-how available to people all over the world,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“This is the kind of open, transparent license we need to move the needle on access during and after the pandemic,” says the author.

“I urge COVID-19 vaccine, treatment, and diagnostics developers to follow this lead and turn the tide on the pandemic, as well as the devastating global inequity that this pandemic has highlighted.”

“Our strong partnership with WHO and C-TAP partners was critical in negotiating this license, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future, drawing on WHO’s expertise and guidance,” said Charles Gore, MPP’s Executive Director.

“It’s clear that MPP’s model can be applied to a variety of health technologies, and we’re excited to be signing our first C-TAP/MPP test license with CSIC.”
The president of CSIC, Dr. Rosa Menéndez, emphasized the importance of finding solutions so that technologies related to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, and health in general, reach all countries, including those in need.

“In this regard, we hope that CSIC’s participation in MPP and WHO’s international initiatives will serve as an example and a model for other research organizations around the world.”

To date, technology has yielded four different tests, one of which has the potential to distinguish the immune response of COVID-19 infected people from those who have been vaccinated. This should aid future research into immunity’s level and duration, as well as the effectiveness of the tools at our disposal.

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The tests are easy to use and can be used in any setting that has a basic laboratory infrastructure, such as rural areas in low- and middle-income countries. The reading can be done manually (by comparing the color of the wells to the color chart with the naked eye), but an ELISA reader is recommended for greater accuracy.

If the test is to be sold in low- and middle-income countries, promising performance data in the European population will need to be supplemented by the companies developing the technology.