Fidson Healthcare Plc, a leading Nigerian pharmaceutical company, has been chosen to develop and manufacture a generic version of baloxavir marboxil, an antiviral medicine used to treat influenza. This selection makes Fidson one of 11 manufacturers across nine countries chosen under a voluntary licensing agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche. The company disclosed this in a press release signed by its media contact, Tope Akindele.
The Medicines Patent Pool, a United Nations-backed public health organisation, announced the sublicence agreements on 25 September. The selected manufacturers are from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Uganda, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The MPP said the arrangement aims to diversify supply pathways for influenza treatment, support regional production, and strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks and pandemics.
Fidson's selection makes it one of the manufacturers that will develop, manufacture, and supply generic versions of baloxavir in 129 countries covered by the licence, subject to regulatory authorisation. The agreement also gives selected manufacturers access to technical data, reference products for bioequivalence studies, and other support to facilitate product development and regulatory approval.
The MPP selected the manufacturers following an open Expression of Interest process and an assessment of their technical and regulatory capacities and commitment to producing quality-assured baloxavir products. The organisation said having manufacturers in different regions would help build production capacity closer to the populations the medicines are intended to serve and strengthen the resilience of global supply.
For Nigeria, the selection places a local pharmaceutical manufacturer in a global effort to expand production of an influenza antiviral while strengthening domestic and regional pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. Fidson's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Biola Adebayo, described the selection as a validation of the company's commitment to quality-assured pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation.
The partnership demonstrates the growing role of African manufacturers in the global health ecosystem. Fidson will work with Roche, the MPP, and other stakeholders to support broader access to baloxavir across eligible markets. The announcement came as global leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly to discuss pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
The MPP said the licensing arrangement is designed to build manufacturing capacity before, rather than during, a health emergency. Charles Gore, Executive Director of the MPP, said the organisation would work with the selected manufacturers on product development and regulatory approval, aiming to make quality-assured generic baloxavir available as quickly as possible.
Key points
- Fidson Healthcare Plc is one of 11 manufacturers chosen to develop and manufacture a generic version of baloxavir marboxil.
- The selection aims to diversify supply pathways for influenza treatment and strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks and pandemics.
- The partnership demonstrates the growing role of African manufacturers in the global health ecosystem.
