Stop AIDS Campaign celebrates creation of life-saving HIV patent pool
The recent Stop AIDS campaign for the HIV patent pool, which EngageACTION supporters took part in, is celebrating the success of the campaign.
A decision by UNITAID to approve the implementation of an innovative patent pool for HIV drugs was heralded as a great victory in the fight for access to HIV treatment by AIDS activists and NGOs. The initiative will be operating within a year, and should help to save the lives of millions living with HIV across the developing world who are currently unable to access the life-saving medicines they need. It is a voluntary initiative, which 'pools' HIV drug patents, allowing generic manufacturers to produce affordable versions of existing drugs and to develop new more appropriate medicines in exchange for a fair royalty payment to the originator pharmaceutical company.
Worldwide only 42% of those in need of HIV treatment currently receive it; the pool will help to tackle this, and deliver vital new fixed dose combination and child-friendly HIV drugs.
Visit www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk for more information.