Three firms with headquarters in India have inked sub-licence agreements with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-backed organisation, to make some cancer medications more affordable and available to patients.

These agreements permit the manufacturing of generic versions of the cancer medication Nilotinib, which is primarily used to treat Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), in a number of nations.

The licence permits the supply of generic versions of nilotinib in India, seven middle-income countries, and 44 territories, subject to local regulatory approval.

About medicines patent pool

The MPP is a group supported by the UN that works to improve low- and middle-income nations' access to life-saving medications.

The MPP strives to remove obstacles brought about by patents and intellectual property rights that restrict access to and the cost of important medications.

To enable the creation of generic versions of proprietary medications, the MPP bargains voluntary licencing agreements with pharmaceutical firms.

The MPP grants licences to qualifying manufacturers, allowing them to create and distribute low-cost generic medications in low- and middle-income nations.

Need

The MPP's collaborative approach is required in order to solve global health issues and advance access to medications. The MPP works in partnership with governments, nonprofit organisations, civil society organisations, and pharmaceutical firms.

Priority Diseases: The MPP focuses on diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB, hepatitis C, and other priority areas where access to cheap pharmaceuticals is essential.

Sustainable Supply of Generic Drugs: By entering into licencing agreements, the MPP maintains a steady supply of generic drugs with high quality standards, fostering market competition and increasing the range of available therapies.

Enhancing Access to Life-Saving Treatments and Lowering the Burden of High medication Costs: The MPP's work improves health outcomes and saves lives by lowering the burden of high medication costs.

How do you define chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)?

It belongs to the category of leukaemia, a blood-cell malignancy that affects both the bone marrow and the blood. Other varieties include Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

Myeloid cells, aberrant white blood cells, which are its defining feature, develop out of control.

CML usually advances slowly, and the chronic stage is when it is frequently identified.

Blood tests and a bone marrow analysis are frequently used to make the diagnosis of CML.