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LONDON (Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Monday that its HIV joint venture with Pfizer Inc and Shionogi Ltd, ViiV Healthcare, has extended the coverage of its existing licence agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool for dolutegravir to cover all lower middle income countries.
Its existing licence agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool already covers all low income, least developed and all sub-Saharan African countries. The extension means that more than 94% of adults living with HIV in the developing world are now covered by the licence agreement, Glaxo said.
This is particularly pertinent to Armenia, Moldova, Morocco and Ukraine, where ViiV ha a registered patent for dolutegravir.
The Medicines Patent Pool is a United Nations-backed organisation that aims to increase access to HIV treatments, along with viral hepatitis C and tuberculosis.
"Our existing collaboration with the MPP is now strengthened through this expansion of the territory coverage of our licence agreement. This is a good example of how we work with global partners to deliver on our commitments to improving access as we continue making good progress to ensure innovative medicines like dolutegravir can be available to more people living with HIV, in particular in those countries where the need is most pressing," said Chief Executive Officer of ViiV Dominique Limet in a statement.
Shares in Glaxo were down 0.2% at 1,421.00 pence Monday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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