GlaxoSmithKline/Pfizer HIV firm announces new access programme

GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer’s collaboratively-founded specialist HIV company ViiV Healthcare has announced a new scheme designed to help patients in poorer nations access its treatments more easily.

Under the terms of the new arrangement, generic drug manufacturers in low-income nations are to be given access to ViiV Healthcare’s entire range of antiretroviral medicine patents royalty-free.

This landmark step will apply both to its currently-available drugs and future pipeline developments, and will allow generic companies to provide low-cost therapies to patients.

Dr Dominique Limet, chief executive officer of ViiV Healthcare, explained that this move will help to increase the number of patients moving on to second and third-line treatment when needed.

“As a company totally focused and dedicated to tackling this epidemic we are passionately committed to thinking and acting differently and taking new steps to expand access,” added Dr Limet.

This comes after ViiV’s majority stakeholder GlaxoSmithKline announced earlier this month that it has created a dedicated developing countries and market access operating unit.