Ugandan Children Are Among the First to Receive Abbott's Lower-Strength Aluvia (lopinavir/ritonav...(ation in mostdeveloping countries can on...),Health

"Nine out of every ten children with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. We developed Aluvia with the distinct needs of children in the developing world in mind," said Mark Masterson, vice president, Asia, Africa, Australia, Central Europe region, Abbott International.

Abbott has invested in sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet the anticipated global demand for the Aluvia tablets and plans to register the lower-strength Aluvia tablet in 150 countries -- broader registration than any other pediatric HIV medicine. The company will supply the lower-strength tablet at half the price of the original tablet in developing countries. Both the original strength and lower-strength versions of Abbott's Aluvia tablets are more affordable in these 69 countries than any generic copy.

"Introduction of second-line medicine for children living with HIV will help restore hope for millions of parents and children who would otherwise face a bleak future if first-line therapy failed," said Dr. Peter Mugyenyi, chair and director, Joint Clinical Research Centre (Uganda's pioneer AIDS research and treatment institution), and chairman of African Dialogue on AIDS. "Co-formulated lopinavir/ritonavir is a WHO-recommended second-line HIV treatment regimen for children, and Abbott is making its latest, most innovative version available to our most vulnerable sector of society: children who live in poor countries."

Abbott's effort to provide African children with HIV treatments is part of its five-point global strategy to expand access to HIV treatments around the world by:
-- Focusing on pediatric HIV care

-- Continuing to innovate with an eye on the needs of the developing world

-- Investing in manufacturing capacity to ensure consistent, quality<
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