Unitaid 2017-2021 Strategy Review – Volume 2: Annexes
Innovations in paediatric medicines delivery awarded UnitaidExplore funding
- Two new awards announced under Unitaid’s agility mechanism, UnitaidExplore; DelSiTech and FluidPharma will each receive investment for innovations to make medicines easier to give to children
- Latest call comes in context of Unitaid’s ground-breaking work on paediatric formulations to treat HIV, TB and malaria
- Children in low- and middle-income countries have lower treatment coverage and worse health outcomes than adults – a lack of paediatric formulations is a major contributing factor.
Geneva, 4 October 2021 – Two companies developing potentially game-changing medicine delivery mechanisms for children are the latest recipients of UnitaidExplore funding.
Finnish company DelSiTech and British enterprise FluidPharma have each been awarded funding following the latest call for applications under Unitaid’s pioneering agility mechanism.
Children in low- and middle-income countries have lower treatment coverage and worse health outcomes than adults. A major barrier is a lack of medication that is specifically formulated for their needs. Often medicine is too bitter, difficult to swallow or not correctly dosed, making it hard for children to stay on treatment for diseases such as HIV, malaria and TB.
The latest UnitaidExplore call specifically targeted this issue, inviting applicants to apply for funding to push forward innovation in this field. It builds on Unitaid’s significant work in the field of paediatric formulations for HIV, TB and malaria treatments, and its key role in WHO’s GAP-f network.
FluidPharma will use UnitaidExplore funding to take forward development of their MicroCoat™ technology, which utilises tiny cellulose spheres with taste-masking properties to deliver medication in a formulation that is more palatable to children. It is hoped that this technology could be used across a range of disease areas, with initial development of an artesunate/amodiaquine malaria combination therapy.
DelSiTech’s work focuses on the development of long-acting injectables to deliver medicines to children, reducing the burden of tablets and the associated stigma with taking such medication. The technology involves the use of thin, minimally invasive needles to deliver a unique silica-based formulation via sub-cutaneous injection. The technology can be used to administer drugs that treat or prevent a wide range of conditions, while significantly extending the effective duration of the treatment from a single dose.
Unitaid Director of Strategy Janet Ginnard said: “Innovations in medicine delivery that are specifically aimed at children are of utmost importance and we are pleased to announce this funding to DelSiTech and FluidPharma. These investments fit firmly with Unitaid’s track record in facilitating access to the best medicines for the most vulnerable people. These innovations will help ensure that children can benefit from lifesaving treatment and have the best possible health outcomes.”
The investments from Unitaid will accelerate both companies’ paediatric delivery mechanisms, covering pre-clinical work for several different potential applications.
Professor John Reeder from WHO’s GAP-f network said: “Unitaid’s new investments in innovative delivery approaches for children are extremely welcome, as they spark new energy and collaborations to ensure that science and innovation are at the service of those who have been too often left behind, our children.”
Dr. Lasse Leino, Chief Executive Officer from DelSiTech said: “Alliances, such as with Unitaid, are essential to us and to healthcare organisations around the world for the realisation of our common goal, securing real advancements in global health. DelSiTech is committed to pursuing long lasting strategic partnerships, enabling us to play a role in improving treatment outcomes, now for clearly underserved children. We are thrilled to collaborate with Unitaid and are prepared to leverage the full extent of our technologies and expertise for paediatric solutions for patients, wherever they may be”.
Dr Fang Liu from Fluid Pharma said: “We are really excited for this opportunity to join Unitaid’s excellent work in making medicines suitable for children. Applying the MicroCoatTM technology, we will develop paediatric anti-malarial treatments that are palatable, easy to swallow and stable, to improve compliance and treatment outcomes for children.”
This announcement complements two awards given last year to the first UnitaidExplore recipients, Vayu Global Health and EPFL EssentialTech, to take forward innovations in paediatric oxygen delivery.
About Unitaid
Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities such as cervical cancer and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.
Media contacts
For more information and media requests:
Hervé Verhoosel
Head of Communications
Unitaid, Geneva
tel. +44 77 29 618 634
Maggie Zander
Communication Officer
Unitaid, Geneva
tel. +41 79 593 17 74
End-of-grant evaluation Medicines Patent Pool (MPPII)
Biomarkers for acute febrile illness at the point-of-care in low-resource settings. Technical working session. Meeting pre-reads
Biomarkers for acute febrile illness at the point-of-care in low-resource settings. Meeting report
Unitaid achieves top rating for promoting gender equality in Global Health 50/50 report
Geneva – Unitaid has been ranked in the top 5% of global health organisations for promoting gender equality in a prestigious international report released today.
The Global Health 50/50 report, published for the fourth time to mark International Women’s Day 2021, reviews the gender-related policies and practices of 201 organisations working in global health.
Unitaid was placed in the select group of 12 ‘very high scorers’, alongside partners including The Global Fund, Save the Children and PSI, and was also ranked among the highest-scoring multilateral organisations.
A variety of metrics were used to assess performance, including stated commitment to gender equality, policies to advance equity and tackle power imbalances in the workplace, and the gender-responsiveness of health programmes.
While the report highlights significant overall progress in areas such as gender policy transparency and inclusive working environments, it underlines the need for further change in terms of women in positions of power and recognition of how gender impacts people’s health, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
Unitaid Executive Director and International Gender Champion Dr Philippe Duneton said: “I am delighted to see Unitaid recognised as one of the best international organisations for gender equality. As leaders in global health, it is our role to ensure that words transform into action, and that we fight for equality in our daily actions, as well as big moments such as these.”
Global Health 50/50 Co-directors Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes said: “On behalf of Global Health 50/50, we would like to congratulate Unitaid for their strong performance in the 2021 Gender and Health Index. By taking deliberate and transparent actions, Unitaid keeps the pressure on themselves and others in the sector to continue pushing for change, and provides much needed hope that we can achieve gender equality in our quest for health, dignity and social justice for all.”
The full Global Health 50/50 report can be read here.
Unitaid among top 5% of global health organisations for promoting gender equality – according to @GlobalHlth5050 2021 report, released for @womensday. Read more here https://t.co/zAGxWEaqMF👇#IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge pic.twitter.com/afHvgxBiRT
— Unitaid (@UNITAID) March 8, 2021
Media contacts:
Hervé Verhoosel, Unitaid, Geneva – tel. +44 77 29 618 634, verhooselh@unitaid.who.int
Charlotte Baker, Unitaid, Geneva – tel. +44 7904 460 181, bakerc@unitaid.who.int
Unitaid’s response to COVID-19 praised in UK government review
Geneva – Unitaid has received a high ‘A’ rating in its annual review from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The UK’s annual review process assesses the effectiveness of all development projects supported by the UK government against a set of robust performance standards.
The report underscored the efficiency and effectiveness of Unitaid’s operating model, highlighting that “Unitaid continues to represent a strong value for money proposition” for UK investment.
Highlights from the report also included praise for Unitaid’s ‘proactive role in the response to COVID-19’ through its leadership in the ACT-Accelerator, commending the organisation’s ‘quick, decisive action and value-add in the areas of access to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics, and health-system strengthening’.
Unitaid welcomes the outcome of this review and is focused on continuing to deliver impact from its investments, playing a lead role in equitable access for COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics and engaging with the global health community in the process of developing a new Strategy.
The full report can be read here.
Media contact: Charlotte Baker | tel. +44 7904 460 181 | bakerc@unitaid.who.int