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Accelerating the Expansion of HIV Treatment Access to Children in the Developing World

Working with the United States Agency for International Development, through U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to expand access to needed HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) for children in the resource-limited settings.
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Bilateral development organizations 2
Objectives

The initiative seeks to address the fact that only about half of children under age 15 in resource-limited countries are benefiting from ART.

What are the health needs and challenges?

Worldwide, approximately 1.8 million children under age 15 have HIV, and almost 90% are living in sub-Saharan Africa. Only 52% of these children are on HIV treatment. Even with ART, rates of treatment success for children and adolescents are consistently lower than those for adults across Africa. Studies have shown that most children failing ART have evidence of drug resistance, highlighting the urgent need for follow-on (second- or third-line) treatment regimens to which resistance has not developed.

Collaboration activities and how they address needs and challenges

To accelerate the expansion of HIV treatment access to children, particularly those in need of follow-on regimens, Janssen will work to provide sustainable access to a pediatric formulation of its medicine, darunavir 75mg. Working with the United States Agency for International Development, through PEPFAR, Janssen has developed an alternate procurement model to overcome the current lack of market incentives for generic manufacturers to supply pediatric antiretroviral medicines such as darunavir. While these medicines are critical for children in need of alternative HIV therapies, currently they are requested and purchased in relatively small quantities compared to similar medicines for adults, which represents a challenge for generic manufacturers.

For nearly eight years, Janssen has been working to address the needs of this significantly under-served population in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2014, Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, launched the New Horizons Collaborative, which is aimed at addressing critical gaps in pediatric HIV care and expanding access to second- and third-line HIV medicines to children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
Quote
"Together with PEPFAR, and other global partners, our goal is to extend availability to the young by ensuring that children and adolescents living with HIV have access to sustainable, high-quality, and appropriate treatment.”
Paul Stoffels, M.D.
Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson
“We’ve made tremendous progress in delivering HIV therapies to people in developing countries, overall, but we need to do better for children. Children are more prone to developing drug resistance to first-line therapies, and yet the supply of the second-line medicines they need is constrained. By working together with innovator companies like Johnson & Johnson, as well as generic manufacturers, PEPFAR is determined to address this critical gap. Because we know that if we don’t take action now, the pediatric HIV care challenge will only grow.”
Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, M.D.
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator & U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy
Geographic Reach
  • Global Commitment
Disease Area
  • Infectious and Parasitic Disease
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Target Population
  • Marginalized/indigenous people
  • Youth
  • Children
Partner organizations
Bilateral development organizations

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Additional resources

FURTHER READING

Geographic Reach

Global Commitment

Disease Area

Infectious and Parasitic Disease

  • HIV/AIDS
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