Novartis Inks Licensing Deal With Medicines Patent Pool for Leukemia Drug

Novartis has signed a licensing deal with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to increase developing countries’ access to nitolinib, an oral drug that treats chronic myeloid leukemia.

MPP negotiates licenses with patent holders and licenses the patents to multiple manufacturers to broaden access to critical medications. Nilotinib is on the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines for adults and children one year and older.

Under the terms of the deal, certain generic manufacturers will be able to develop, manufacture and supply generic versions of nilotinib in licensed territories, subject to local regulatory authorization.

The license applies to 44 countries, including seven middle-income countries: Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tunisia.