May 18 (Reuters) - Roche and the Medicines

Patent Pool have signed a licensing agreement to expand access

to the Swiss drugmaker's flu drug, Xofluza, in low- and

middle-income countries, the organizations said on Monday,

aiming to boost supply during seasonal outbreaks and potential

pandemics.

The deal will allow generic drugmakers to develop,

manufacture and supply the antiviral pill across 129 such

countries, creating additional supply channels in regions where

access to flu medicines remains limited.

The Medicines Patent Pool, a United Nations-backed public

health group, said it would invite expressions of interest from

manufacturers to produce the drug under license.

Roche's Xofluza is used to treat flu in patients who have

had symptoms for no more than two days.

The treatment, which is recommended by the World Health

Organization and approved by regulators in the United States and

Europe, has shown effectiveness against some flu strains

resistant to older antiviral classes, making it an important

tool in managing outbreaks, the groups said.

"This public health-oriented agreement is an important step

towards further improving access to influenza treatment in

LMICs," MPP Executive Director Charles Gore said, adding it

aimed to ensure tools and manufacturing capacity are in place

before the next health emergency.

Under the agreement, Roche will provide licenses with access

to data packages, reference products for bioequivalence studies

and certain regulatory support to help accelerate the

development of the drug's generic versions, while manufacturers

will independently handle their own approval processes.

In October, Roche launched direct-to-consumer U.S. sales of

Xofluza at a discounted cash price of $50, following similar

moves by rivals as they scramble to address pressure from the

Trump administration to lower prescription drug prices paid by

Americans.