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 The existing four tests, which check for the presence of SARS-CoV-2
antibodies developed after either an infection or a vaccine dose,
could also inform decisions on the need for boosters to protect
against the disease, it said in a statement.
The non-exclusive licensing agreement reached with the Spanish
National Research Council (CSIC), a public research institute
offering the technology as a global public good, is the first test
licence signed by the WHO's Medicines Patent Pool (MPP).
"The aim of the licence is to facilitate the rapid manufacture and
commercialisation of CSIC’s COVID-19 serological test worldwide,"
the WHO said.
"The licence will be royalty-free for low- and middle-income
countries and will remain valid until the date the last patent
expires," it said.
The tests are simple to use and suitable for even rural settings
with a basic laboratory infrastructure, it added.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the deal
which he hoped would inspire other developers to share tools against
COVID-19 which has killed 5.4 million people since the virus emerged
in central China in December 2019.
"This is the kind of open and transparent licence we need to move
the needle on access during and after the pandemic," Tedros said.
"I urge developers of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics
to follow this example and turn the tide on the pandemic and on the
devastating global inequity this pandemic has spotlighted."
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 Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
welcomed the deal, noting that currently WHO
only had one antibody test using quantitative
immunoassays (ELISA) made by Roche Holding AG
which can only be used with the Swiss-based
drugmaker’s own device.
“In order to overcome the monopoly of large
diagnostics companies such as Roche, and to
facilitate production and supply of reliable
ELISA antibody tests in all countries, the open
licence from CSIC to WHO C-TAP (COVID-19
Technology Access Pool) is an important step
forward,” the activist group said.
“However, one licence from one technology owner
is not enough to open up the full platform so
that developers in countries can improve their
tests for COVID-19 antibodies. Removing
intellectual property barriers on all key
technology components, and facilitating open
sharing, pooling and transferring of
technologies, data and know-how, are important
to guarantee and improve access to COVID-19
diagnostics for all."
(Reporting by Stephanie; Nebehay Editing by Nick
Macfie)
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