Geneva, 30 August 2023 (TDI): The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, in collaboration with its partners and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers, has achieved a remarkable milestone by substantially reducing the cost of first-line HIV treatment to under $45 per year per person.
This achievement represents a significant 25% reduction in the cost of HIV treatment, marking a substantial step towards expanding access to critical HIV services in resource-limited settings.
The cornerstone of this achievement is a first-line HIV treatment known as TLD, which combines three essential medicines: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine, and dolutegravir.
This combination treatment has been endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the preferred first-line option for adults and adolescents since 2018. Its advantages include rapid virus suppression, minimal side effects, and ease of administration.
The impact of this cost reduction is profound. It not only allows governments and Global Fund grant implementers to expand treatment programs but also to invest more in preventive measures, ultimately saving lives and reducing new infections.
This accomplishment builds upon the progress made in 2017 when Indian generic manufacturers, with support from various organizations, made TLD available to low- and middle-income countries at approximately $75 per person annually.
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Since then, through collaborative efforts and country-led initiatives, approximately 19 million individuals in resource-constrained settings have gained access to TLD.
This scale has driven production efficiencies, further reduced costs and strengthened efforts to reach all people living with HIV who need TLD.
This achievement underscores the importance of collaboration and partnerships in achieving sustainable outcomes.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of partners and the ability of generic manufacturers to rapidly scale up the production of high-quality medicines.
Additionally, the Global Fund actively promotes local and regional manufacturing of health products in conjunction with partner organizations like Unitaid, PEPFAR, and WHO.
The Global Fund’s commitment to securing a sustainable supply of affordable HIV treatment continues, with a focus on collaboration with major pharmaceutical suppliers, many of which are based in India and are instrumental in scaling up regional manufacturing, particularly in Africa.
To further leverage these accomplishments, the Global Fund, along with PEPFAR and the National Department of Health, Republic of South Africa, is set to host the annual ARV Buyer Seller Summit in Maputo, Mozambique.
This summit, beginning on October 30th, serves as a significant platform for enhancing collaboration across the antiretroviral supply chain, ultimately strengthening the fight against HIV/AIDS.
