Cipla and Unitaid enter into a landmark deal to lower price of HIV drug

Cipla and Unitaid struck a landmark agreement that will lower the price of the first combination therapy (containing co-trimoxazole, isoniazid and vitamin B6) that prevents opportunistic infections in people living with HIV.

The HIV virus can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of dangerous infection by bacteria and viruses.

Under this agreement, Cipla will reduce the ceiling price of the medicine by more than 30 percent from US$ 3 to US$ 1.99 per person, per month, for all public-sector procurers in low- and middle-income countries. The price of the product is expected to come down more as governments and international funding bodies procure larger quantities for their HIV treatment programmes.

The drug, known as Q-TIB, has been on the market since 2017, but its high price has put it out of reach of countries' health budgets.

The collaboration is part of Unitaid's broader effort to expand access to a package of essential products for screening, preventing and treating the most prevalent opportunistic infections in people living with HIV.

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