Fidson Healthcare Plc, a Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing company, has been selected alongside 10 other manufacturers across nine countries to develop and manufacture generic versions of baloxavirmarboxil, an antiviral treatment for influenza, under a voluntary licensing agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Roche.

The sublicence agreements are aimed at expanding manufacturing capacity, diversifying supply pathways for influenza treatment and strengthening preparedness for future outbreaks and pandemics, according to the MPP.

The announcement was made in New York as global leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, where Fidson was named among the manufacturers selected under the voluntary licence, alongside Laurus Labs and MSN of India, and Desano and Guilin Pharma (Fosun) of China, which have global manufacturing presence.

Six other regionally focused manufacturers were also selected including Biolab& Co. of Brazil, Kimia Farma of Indonesia, Hovid of Malaysia.