Novartis and Johnson & Johnson will be the first two big pharmas to release second quarter financial results, and both have faced recent patent case developments for top-selling drugs.

The Medicines Patent Pool has facilitated sublicenses with seven manufacturers to distribute generic versions of Shionogi’s oral COVID-19 antiviral ensitrelvir across low- and middle-income countries.

The first sublicensing deals through MPP for Shionogi's oral COVID antiviral Xocova with seven firms in China, India, Ukraine and Vietnam suggest the global debut of generic versions will come earlier than usual after the original, which continues in multiple global Phase III programs in various settings. While sales hopes are high, the drug may also be hit by a price cut in its first and biggest market so far – Japan.

The Medicines Patent Pool has facilitated sublicenses with seven manufacturers to distribute generic versions of Shionogi’s oral COVID-19 antiviral ensitrelvir across low- and middle-income countries.