PEPFAR and Partners Launch Pediatric Initiative
01 December 2014
On the occasion of World AIDS Day 2014, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Pediatric HIV Treatment Initiative (PHTI) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced a new Global Pediatric Antiretroviral (ARV) Commitment-to-Action.” The Commitment-to-Action brings together leading organizations to accelerate the development of new, high-priority pediatric ARV co-formulations for first- and second-line treatment by 2017.

“PEPFAR is deeply committed to expanding children’s access to HIV/AIDS treatment and we need better products for children as fast as possible to succeed,” said Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, M.D., U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. “The prevailing treatment gap between adults and children is unacceptable, and we must all act with urgency to fill it. PEPFAR is pleased to work with the Pediatric HIV Treatment Initiative, the Global Fund, and other partners to accelerate innovation and save children’s lives.”

National governments, international agencies, non-profit product developers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and donors are mobilizing around a global effort to accelerate children’s access to HIV/AIDS treatment with the ultimate aim of ending pediatric HIV/AIDS. “The new collaboration between the PHTI, PEPFAR and the Global Fund now provides a real chance to end pediatric AIDS. It brings together all necessary players to achieve the goal: PHTI is focused on developing new effective and easy-to-take medicines, with PEPFAR and the Global Fund poised to make them widely available,” said Lelio Marmora, UNITAID’s Executive Director.

Building on this momentum, the Global Pediatric Antiretroviral Commitment-to-Action aims to accelerate the development and introduction of sufficient quantities of optimal ARV formulations for children globally. This can be achieved by mobilizing and incentivizing originator and generic drug manufacturers to develop and supply ARV medicines, while ensuring affordability, facilitating access, and promoting rapid uptake by national HIV/AIDS programs.
“By working together, we can protect the lives of more children,” said Dr. Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Treating children with HIV is a priority that we all agree on.”

PEPFAR, PHTI, and the Global Fund, working together with participating originator and generic pharmaceutical companies, will develop an Operational Framework for the Global Pediatric Antiretroviral Commitment-to-Action by March 31, 2015. Expected outcomes by 2017 include: the development of highest priority pediatric co-formulations for first- and second-line treatment; Public Recognition Awards for relevant generic and originator pharmaceutical companies; and rapid and harmonized regulatory approval of new pediatric ARV formulations.