FINAL PHASE OF AIDS MEDICINES PATENT POOL ACCOMPLISHED

UNITAID NOTE TO THE PRESS/10/6/2010

Geneva, 8 June 2010 - Today, the UNITAID Board made the final decision towards the establishment of the Patent Pool Foundation, scheduled to happen in July this year.  UNITAID will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the new Medicines Patent Pool Foundation and provide US $ 4.4 million for its first year of operations. 

"What this means in practical terms," said Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chair of the UNITAID Executive Board, "is that formal negotiations with the patent holders can now begin.  We expect the Patent Pool Foundation to have its first licenses within a year." 

If the Patent Pool is successful in obtaining licenses for key AIDS drugs, it will contribute towards greater access to more affordable and better medicines for people living with AIDS in the developing world. 

Contact: Ellen 't Hoen, Senior Adviser IP & Medicines; Tel.  +41 22 791 18 20;
Mob. +41 79 509 06 79; Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.