Merck Sharp and Dohme and MPP to expand access to paediatric HIV drug

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced a new collaboration with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to expand global access to paediatric formulations of its HIV drug raltegravir.

The company is providing the MPP a royalty-free licence for the development of paediatric formulations of raltegravir, including chewable tablets and granules for oral suspension, for infants and children from four weeks to under 12 years of age in developing countries.

It represents the MPP's first agreement to provide access to an HIV integrase inhibitor for use in combination HIV therapy for infants and children in this age range. The deal applies to low and middle-income countries with significantly high rates of paediatric HIV – 92 countries in total.

Jackie Neilson, general manager and global commercial leader for Merck's HIV franchise, said: "This builds upon Merck's three-decade long commitment to both innovation and access to address the global HIV epidemic."

Raltegravir is marketed by Merck under the brand name Isentress. The drug has been approved for use in more than 115 countries, and the company is currently working on the development of a once-daily formulation of the therapy.