Laurus Labs Ltd is developing a third-line HIV treatment, darunavir boosted with ritonavir (DRV/r), for children.
The development is under way based on an agreement inked in June 2021 by the Hyderabad-based company, Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
“Despite being available in high-income countries for over a 15-year period, a generic, fixed-dose combination paediatric version of DRV/r is still not available,” the company said in a release.
“Through this agreement, Unitaid and CHAI are working with the company to finally address this critical need and ensure CLHIV (Children Living with HIV/AIDS) have access to high-quality second- and third-line HIV treatment,” it added.
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Understanding the “small market size” for a paediatric version of DRV/r, the initiative has provided Laurus with a financial “incentive” for a portion of its development and commercialisation costs.