EGPAF applauds new licensing agreement to improve access to HIV medication for children

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) applauds the new licensing agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. to improve access to tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), a promising new HIV medication. The agreement was announced during the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) in Melbourne, Australia.

While TAF is still in Phase III clinical trials, early data suggests it could be a key ingredient in the next generation of first-line fixed-dose treatment options for children living with HIV.

"With only one in four children living with HIV currently getting treatment, we cannot continue to do business as usual," said Charles Lyons, EGPAF president and CEO. "We congratulate MPP and Gilead on this expanded collaboration and their proactive efforts to support countries and populations hardest hit by HIV and AIDS. This is the kind of innovative action that we need now to protect the health of affected children and in order to achieve an AIDS-free generation. "

The license will allow manufacturers in India and China to develop generic versions of TAF for 112 countries that are home to more than 92 percent of people living with HIV in the developing world.

Every day, almost 700 babies are newly infected with HIV, almost all of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. EGPAF and its affiliates have provided critical HIV care and treatment to more than 2 million individuals, including 160,000 children and enrolled more than 95,000 children on antiretroviral therapy.