NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, June 20, 2016

Children living with HIV/Aids in the region will soon benefit from a new antiretroviral formulation that medical workers say is easier to administer and has a “friendly” taste.

Medics also hope the formulation, developed by pharmaceutical company Cipla, in collaboration with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and was approved for use by WHO in 2015, will address the treatment gaps that currently exist as a result of challenges resulting from the way the current drugs are stored.

The formulation, containing the antiretroviral drugs Lopinavir and Ritonavir, will be in oral pellets and will replace the syrup form of the same drug, which is the current formulation in use for treating paediatric HIV. The syrup formulation has a bitter taste, which usually makes it difficult for children to take consistently every day.

The newly developed pellets can be administered by being mixed with soft foods given to children, including porridge, yoghurt and breast milk.