The most effective way to get –and keep- ahead of the current Covid-19 pandemic is to keep testing, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, who also enlightened that this new agreement means they can take advantage of untapped manufacturing capacity so more people in more nations can have easier access to affordable diagnostics.
The new agreement builds on a licensing agreement announced by WHO and MPP last year with Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC). The non-exclusive sublicence allows Biotech to manufacture and commercialize CSIC’s Covid-19 serological test worldwide.
The test effectively checks for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies developed either in response to a Covid-19 infection or to a vaccine.
The agreement covers all related patents and the biological material needed to manufacture the test. CSIC will provide all know-how to Biotech as well as training. The licence will be royalty-free for low- and middle-income countries and will remain valid until the date the last patent expires.
Launched in 2020 by the WHO Director-General and the President of Costa Rica, and supported by 44 WHO Member States, C-TAP aims to facilitate timely, equitable and affordable access to Covid-19 health products by boosting their production and supply through open, non-exclusive licensing agreements.
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