The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) announced a new and better treatment for children living with HIV, which could be available by the end of 2018.

The new 4-in-1 formulation, in the form of pellets, is more tolerable, better tasting, safer for children to use and does not require refrigeration. It will replace a liquid formulation being used to treat children living with HIV that had high alcohol content, and tasted bitter.

“The ARV pellets were not an easy task but we did it,” said Dr Marc Lallement, MD, Head of HIV Programme, DNDi at an event organized by UNITAID, the funder of the project, DNDi and the Clinton Health Initiative at the International AIDS Conference in Durban. At the event, participants even tasted the LPV/r oral pellets and attested to its much improved taste.

Almost two million children live with HIV but in 2015, only 51 per centof children living with HIV received antiretroviral therapy. “The pellets are a true innovation that UNITAID has funded and is proud of. We remain committed to ensuring that children everywhere have access to this medicine,” said Carmen Perez Casas, Technical Manager, UNITAID during the discussion about scaling up HIV treatment of children.

At the event, results were presented from a study in South Africa on children co-infected with HIV and TB, providing essential evidence and data in support of WHO guidelines that recommend the 4-in-1 formulation for children.

“We have a new medicine for kids, so let’s get it out there,” said Polly Clayden of HIViBase.

In 2012, UNITAID awarded a grant of US $ 17.3 million to DNDi to replace the existing liquid formulation with a more tolerable version. UNITAID has been committed to providing better medicines to children since its creation in 2006. Through its partnership with CHAI, UNITAID has contributed to an increase in number of HIV positive children receiving treatment from 70,000 in 2006 to over 700,000 today.

Read more in this booklet.

Communiqués de presse en français: Un nouveau traitement bientôt disponible pour les enfants vivant avec le VIH