A cheaper anti-AIDS drug better accepted by young children, in syrup form, has revolutionized the fight once morest the virus in developing countries. It is distributed in several African countries, notably in Kenya.
Nestled in the heart of the Kibera slum, the largest in Kenya, the Lea Toto clinic provides treatment for more than 300 children born HIV-positive. Here, AIDS is still often transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy. This is what happened for Adelaide and her daughter Ruth.
Every three months, the consultation of the clinic is reserved for HIV-positive patients. “I came with Ruth to take her treatment. When she was 4 months old, she became seriously ill. The doctors told me that she was HIV positive. It was very difficult for me. I wasn’t waiting, because my two other children were not infected with AIDS during pregnancy”, testified his mother in La Matinale de la RTS. “I was so scared for Ruth! I didn’t think she would survive. But thank God she is fine now.”
Ruth is now 5 years old. Without her treatment, she would probably never have celebrated her second birthday, the average life expectancy for a child born with AIDS.
Dispersible tablets
The treatment of the disease has fortunately evolved a lot in 10 years, as noted by Caroline, a nurse at the Lea Toto clinic. “Before, we had to cut the pills intended for adults to give them to children. Then there was a pediatric syrup that had to be given in large quantities. Its taste was so bitter that children spit it out or even vomit it. But since dolutegravir, they like to take their syrup”, she observes.
Dolutegravir 10 mg in the form of dispersible tablets (pictured) is suitable for young children. [newhivdrugs.org – DR]The antiretroviral drug now exists in the form of dispersible tablets. Dissolved in water, they turn into sweet strawberry-flavored syrup, better accepted by children. Less expensive than other anti-AIDS drugs, it is currently distributed in several African countries thanks to the health agency Unitaid.
This innovation has been a real revolution in the daily lives of HIV-positive children. For lack of a market and therefore of profitability for the pharmaceutical groups, it took years before the production of this pediatric treatment, which was done under the impetus of the health agency Unitaidcreated 15 years ago.
>> Read also: The price of an HIV treatment for children might be reduced by four
No medicine for lack of a market in rich countries
A dolutegravir molecule modeled in 3 dimensions. [Science Photo Library – AFP]HIV-positive newborns are only a reality in certain poor regions, where treatment for AIDS is inadequate, such as in Africa, for example. “Because of this, the pharmaceutical companies are thinking that there is no market for these treatments in Europe, where you pay a lot of money for the drugs. And so, unfortunately, there was no solution for these children here,” said Unitaid spokesman Hervé Verhoosel.
The association then collaborated with pharma to develop versions suitable for infants. Until then, dolutegravir only existed in the form of film-coated tablets that it was only possible to prescribe to children weighing a minimum of 14 kilos.
Diagnostics plus efficaces
Combined with more effective diagnostics, this adapted treatment now saves the lives of thousands of young children. “The challenge was huge to identify HIV-positive children, because there were no DNA tests. Children were therefore treated only when they developed symptoms and the mother was HIV-positive. We lost a lot!”, recalls Program Manager at Unitaid Jackson Hungu.
Eventually, DNA tests were created, which allowed them to be diagnosed and put on treatment more quickly. “Today, thanks to this medicine, which has fewer side effects and is better accepted by children, the treatment is much more effective.”
Radio subject: Charlotte Simonart
Adaptation web: Vincent Cherpillod
