The agreement will allow for the manufacture of generic RAV by several suppliers. According to MMP the aim is to create an affordable supply of Hep C treatments to low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
The licencing and technology transfer agreement for RAV, an NS5A inhibitor, is subject to the successful development of the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) currently in a Phase III trial.
“If successfully developed, ravidasvir could help treat millions of hepatitis C patients,” said MPP Executive Director, Greg Perry.
Availability
MPP said RAV has the potential to work across all six Hep C genotypes, which is imperative for LMICs lacking in diagnostic technologies.
“In addition, the MPP licence allows sub-licensees to sell RAV in countries where there are no patents in force, potentially speeding the introduction of low-cost RAV to many more countries”, MPP told In-PharmaTechnologist.
The MPP-Pharco license agreement for RAV is royalty-bearing over net sales in the licenced territories, ranging from four percent in low-income countries and seven percent for middle-income nations.
Pharco Pharmaceuticals is foregoing all royalties for paediatric formulations.
Affordability
Current, effective hepatitis drugs include Gilead’s Sovaldi and Harvoni, which cost approximately £416 (€490) per pill.
The new agreement will enable a broader coverage of RAV, including low- and middle-income countries such as Russia, Ethiopia and Iran.
Pharco Pharmaceuticals aims to eradicate Hep C in Egypt, where it is headquartered, by 2010 and globally by 2030.