Three sub-Saharan African manufacturers are licensees in their own right, alongside a territory that covers all African countries.
| Record ID | TX-AFR-2026-0006 |
|---|---|
| Record type | Commercial IP transaction |
| Transaction type | Patent licence, Non-exclusive licence, Technology transfer |
| IP rights | patent, know-how, regulatory data |
| Status | Signed |
| Qualifying date | 2026-07-24 |
| Sector | Life sciences · Pharmaceuticals – HIV prevention |
| African markets | South Africa, Uganda, Kenya |
| Licensed territory | 129 low- and middle-income countries, described by MSD and by independent reporting as including all African countries. |
| Disclosed value | Not disclosed in the sources reviewed. |
| Evidence | Primary source, independently corroborated · 3 source(s) |
| Last verified | 2026-10-25 |
Parties
- MSD (United States): licensor
- Aspen (South Africa): licensee
- Qcil (Uganda): licensee
- UCL Kenya (Kenya): licensee
Key terms
- Interest: non-exclusive royalty-free licence to develop, manufacture and supply generics; Exclusivity: non-exclusive; Territorial scope: 129 low- and middle-income countries including all African countries; Field of use: HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (public and private sectors)
- Financial terms as reported: “royalty-free agreements with these companies cover both the public and private sectors”
Sources
- Merck Announces Initial Access Plans for Alimatravir, an Investigational Once-Monthly Oral HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Phase 3 Development, Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD), 2026-07-24
- Access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – access strategy page, MSD,
- With Hopes High for New H.I.V. Prevention Pill, Merck Takes Steps to Ensure Access, The New York Times, 2026-07-24
Part of The Meridian’s Africa IP database. Counts, market breakdowns and rankings are derived from published records only; a record counts once. Corrections: submit evidence.
