By Ashna Butani
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the most prevalent in Africa. Around 60% of the people suffering from AIDS, reside in Africa. The disease spread in the late 20th century, becoming a pandemic in most parts of the continent. Unaffordable drugs caused the disease to spread unmanageably over the years. In September 2017, the United Nations launched a new initiative to deal with the threat of AIDS in African nations. The agreement will be formally announced in the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
What Does the Agreement Entail?
The most effective AIDS treatment drug will now be widely available in Africa. The treatment that used to cost more than $1000 per person, will now cost around $75. Available to 92 poor African countries, the drug is bound to improve the situation in Africa. Bill Gates charitable fund will guarantee a minimum sales volume for the new combination of pills. The Indian drug makers; Aurobindo Pharma and Mylan Laboratories, will agree that the maximum cost of the drug per patient, is $75. Mylan and Aurobindo will increase the availability of the new fixed-dose of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent billions of dollars in fighting AIDS. With the belief that HIV/AIDS can be eradicated albeit with much effort and investment, the foundation has undertaken a pledge that will involve governments of South Africa and Kenya, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and American, British and U.N. agencies. African health ministries and public sector purchasers will be able to buy the drug from next year. The availability of the new drug will also reduce the need for cheaper, less effective drugs.
Why TLD is the Preferred Medicine
TLD, developed by Mylan Laboratories, combines molecules from three medicines – ViiV Healthcare’s Tivicay® and Epivir® and Gilead Sciences Viread®. The Western makers of the drugs notch up their profits every year. However, the Indian company, keeping a low margin, is the ideal drug for poorer nations. The President of Mylan, Rajiv Malik acknowledged the challenges faced by the developing world in fighting AIDS. That’s why our scientists worked diligently to develop a medicine that combines three of the leading first-line regimens into a new, smaller tablet that patients have to take only once each day,” he said.
Is an AIDS-Free Future Possible for Africa?
The last 50 years have been characterised by insufficient treatment of AIDS. In 2016, the number of new cases needing treatment in the country was close to 1.8 million. Like Bill Gates said, the efforts to eradicate AIDS will be expensive, but the achievement of the task is not impossible. The sale of the TLD at a capped price is Africas first step towards an AIDS-free future. It is estimated that the United Nations agreement will reduce the countrys drug bill by $1 billion in the next six years.
Feeatured image source: Wikimedia Commons