Bristol-Myers Squibb to expand HIV treatment support programme

Bristol-Myers Squibb is to adopt a novel approach to broaden the reach of its Secure The Future HIV treatment support programme throughout the developing world.

The company is seeking to reproduce this scheme in a number of developing nations through partnership working efforts with community associations, government bodies and other funders.

Already established in Mali, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, the Secure The Future programme sees the widening of HIV treatment support initiatives proven to be successful across the least-wealthy parts of Africa.

Launched by the company in 1999, the programme is now present in 12 countries in Africa and represents a $150 million (73 million pound) investment focused on care for children and infrastructure building, in addition to community treatment support.

Phangisile Mtshali, director of the Bristol- Myers Squibb Foundation, said: “With community support, a patient is more likely to seek testing and treatment, will be better prepared to begin and adhere to antiretroviral therapy.”

She added that patients experiencing such support are also less likely to default on their treatment and consequently have an improved clinical outcome.

Earlier this month, Bristol-Myers Squibb terminated its agreement with Medivir relating to the development of its preclinical polymerase inhibitor MIV-170, after the compound failed to meet the desired profile in tests.