Children living with HIV in 92 countries may soon have access to a lower-cost antiretroviral treatment.
The Medicines Patent Pool has struck a licensing agreement with Merck, allowing the development of generic formulations of the pharmaceutical giant’s oral ART drug raltegravir, or RAL. The deal involves formulations targeting babies and children from 4 weeks to 12 years old.
MPP is a U.N.-backed organization that has been negotiating for improved production of HIV medicines and technologies in low-income settings by getting pharma companies to allow for the development of low-cost, generic alternatives of their patented drugs.