The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has announced a new collaboration between the Medicines Patent Pool and ViiV Healthcare to increase access to antiretroviral therapy for children. The new agreement is a significant step forwards in HIV treatment for children as very few antiretroviral drugs are formulated for paediatric use. In 2012 UNAIDS estimated that 72% of children living with HIV who were eligible for treatment did not have access.
“The daunting problem of treating childhood HIV can only be solved when all stakeholders work together,” said Greg Perry, MPP’s Executive Director.
Under the collaboration, ViiV will allow the paediatric formulation of the antiretroviral medicine abacavir to be supplied to 118 countries under a license agreement. The 118 countries are home to more than 98% of all children living with HIV. ViiV have also agreed to negotiate further licences that will allow the manufacture of low-cost versions of promising new, better adapted paediatric medicines that ViiV is currently developing.
Once approved for safety and quality, the new medicines could also be supplied to the 118 countries.
“The agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool and ViiV promises to narrow a substantial gap in access to HIV treatment and offer new hope for children,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I strongly urge other pharmaceutical companies, especially companies holding antiretroviral therapy patents, to join the Pool and help improve the lives of children and adults living with HIV around the world.”
ViiV has also pledged to work with other stakeholders to develop additional abacavir-based products for children and bring them quickly to market in developing countries. This is an important affirmation of the Medicines Patent Pool’s role in facilitating faster introduction of new, better-adapted and affordable medicines, particularly for developing countries.
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