life-saving HIV
In order to obtain the injectable HIV prevention medicine long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for use in MSF projects, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is asking the removal of last-minute terms that ViiV Healthcare has inserted to the contract.
According to MSF, the inclusion has led to a number of unacceptably harsh situations. These have a nondisclosure agreement-like secrecy clause regarding the cost and supply conditions of the medicine. The clause also grants ViiV the authority to renegotiate the terms of the agreement or reject a transaction for any reason.
The health organization believes that agreeing these kinds of secrecy provisions about the supply and cost of medications undercuts accountability and openness. Additionally, according to the assistance organization, it might make it harder for governments and other healthcare practitioners to get access to the medication.
Such terms were sharply condemned for reducing the right to information, transparency, and accountability in purchases supported by the public where they were included in procurement agreements used to acquire COVID-19 vaccines and medicines.
Through its Untangling the Web report series, MSF is still dedicated to keeping an eye on the patent restrictions, drug costs, and availability. This work aids in promoting access to reasonably priced, high-quality therapies.
Additionally, these restrictions prevent governments from negotiating cheaper rates with manufacturers, as do the procurers.
A British multinational pharmaceutical business called ViiV Healthcare focuses on the study and creation of drugs to treat and thwart HIV/AIDS. The GSK and Pfizer joint venture has its headquarters in London.
“There is a lifesaving HIV prevention drug at our fingertips, but ViiV—the only pharmaceutical company producing CAB-LA for at least the next three to four years—is deliberately putting up red tape to delay access for people in our care,” claims
Additionally, it is expected that the non-disclosure of prices may stifle efforts by the civil society to advocate for reduced medicine costs and limit the supply to low- and middle-income nations.
The World Health Organization recommends CAB-LA as a sort of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those who are at high risk of developing HIV.
This medication, which is given by injection every two months, may be crucial in halting the spread of new HIV infections, especially among at-risk groups like girls and women, sex workers, and men who engage in heterosexual intercourse. As of now, CAB-LA has had success preventing HIV in Mozambique and other nations.
