Darnitsa will produce medicals for COVID-19 treatment

22 March 2022

“Darnitsa” announced today that it has entered into a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for manufacturing and sale of a generic version of Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 treatment candidate nirmatrelvir, which is co-packaged with low dose ritonavir (nirmatrelvir; ritonavir).

Currently, “Darnitsa” is the first and only pharmaceutical company in Ukraine with the rights to develop and manufacture the generic drug for delivery to 95 low- and middle- income countries, including Ukraine.

The oral treatment, developed by Pfizer, is intended for use primarily in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients that are at a high risk of complications. It is used to avoid deterioration and transition of the disease from mild to moderate to severe, and to avoid hospitalization.

Starting from February 17, 2022, according to the results of the clinical trials, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine allowed the use of Pfizer’s Covid 19 treatment marketed under the name PAXLOVID™. 

“A powerful and innovative pharma is an extremely important component of the country's national security, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and the global pandemic. As Ukraine's largest pharmaceutical corporation*, “Darnitsa” has created a strategy in partnership with the government and worldwide healthcare leaders to help ensure access to a generic version of the COVID-19 treatment for Ukrainian patients and healthcare professionals as well as for the whole region. We are very grateful to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health for its incredible assistance. We are proud to become MPP’s partner in Ukraine. We are looking two steps ahead in overcoming any risks of future pandemic in Ukraine,” – Dmytro Shymkiv, Executive Chairman, Board of Directors.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, addressing the Covid-19 pandemic has receded into the background. However, official disease statistics for COVID-19 indicate that the disease is still dangerous for the country. As of March 20 this year, about 4.9 million cases of the disease have been registered in Ukraine, of which more than 100,000 people have died from the disease. Today, the strain Omicron BA.2 appeared on the horizon, which is recognized by the WHO as the one that needs control.

Reference

PJSC Pharmaceutical Company "Darnitsa" was founded in 1930. Since 1998, “Darnitsa” has been a leader in Ukraine in terms of production of drugs. Strategic directions of portfolio development - cardiology, neurology, pain management. During 2015-2021, “Darnitsa” launched more than 70 pharmaceutical brands. Since 2002, the production of “Darnitsa” has been certified according to the GMP standard.

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to, and facilitate the development of, life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders, to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations. To date, MPP has signed agreements with 13 patent holders for thirteen HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, two long-acting technologies, two experimental oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and a COVID-19 serological antibody diagnostic test. MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government and SDC.

* In packaging according to Proxima Research 2021-2022

**The information is intended exclusively for distribution in specialized publications intended for medical institutions and doctors