This invitation-only event marks World AIDS Day and the end of DNDi’s multi-year Unitaid grant for the development and delivery of new paediatric HIV treatment formulations.
The event will be followed by an extended virtual reality film screening for interested staff at the Global Health Campus from 11:30-14:00, aided by students from the International School of Geneva next door to the Global Health Campus.
Despite major efforts to increase the number of children on HIV treatment and reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, many of the world’s two million children living with HIV are being left behind. One major challenge that contributes to the treatment gap is the suboptimal range of paediatric ARVs available today. The needs of paediatric HIV patients have been neglected by pharmaceutical research and development, leading to a lack of innovation.
However, change is on the horizon. Several new treatment options are in development for children living with HIV, including a novel ‘4-in-1’ formulation of lopinavir, ritonavir, lamivudine, and abacavir for use in resource-limited settings for children under three years of age. Panellists will discuss diagnosis and treatment access challenges for children living with HIV, the changes a ‘4-in-1’ granules-based treatment formulation could bring if approved, the use of ‘2-in-1’ pellets as an interim solution in some countries, and other new drugs approaching market readiness.
Agenda
Time: 9:00-11:00
Venue:
Unitaid – Global Health Campus
The Forum, Chemin du Pommier 40
1218 Le Grand-Saconnex
| 9:00-9:30 | Check-in and individual screenings of ‘A Mother’s Journey’, a short virtual reality film |
| 9:30-9:45 | Opening remarks – Robert Matiru, Director, Programme Division, Unitaid – Bernard Pécoul, Executive Director, DNDi |
| 9:45-10:50 | Panel: Revolutionizing paediatric HIV treatment Moderator: Meg Doherty, Coordinator, Treatment and Care, Department of HIV and Global Hepatitis Programme, WHO Panellists: – François Bompart, Director, HIV & HCV Initiative, DNDi – Carmen Perez Casas, Senior Strategy Manager, Unitaid – Jennifer Cohn, Senior Director of Innovation, EGPAF – Julia Martin, Senior Health Advisor and PEPFAR Representative to the Global Fund (to be confirmed) |
| 10:50-11:00 | Closing remarks Robert Matiru, Director, Programme Division, Unitaid |
