We want to expedite
UNIVERSAL solutions
to all children living
with HIV in Africa and globally,
from birth to adolescence.
We want to expedite
UNIVERSAL solutions
Why this Project
Access to antiretroviral treatment for children under the age of 15 living with HIV continues to lag behind adults. UNAIDS data indicate that of the estimated 1.8 million children with HIV in 2019, only 53% had access to treatment compared to 68% of adults (UNAIDS 2020).
Many of these children do not receive optimal treatment formulations, designed to meet their specific needs, or state-of-the-art drugs. Studies show that adults living with HIV on effective antiretroviral therapy have significant gains in life expectancy, and we believe that children should be able to benefit from similar gains.
The UNIVERSAL response
UNIVERSAL will develop two complementary antiretroviral fixed-dose combinations for infants and children newly diagnosed with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy, and for children living with HIV who are failing first-line therapy.
The project will also monitor the long-term efficacy and safety of other paediatric ART formulations. This will help to fully address the main treatment gaps in the access of the best treatments to treat HIV in children living in sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to expand their availability also in South America and Asia.
The Project
Governance
Led by Penta Foundation, UNIVERSAL project consists of partners representing multiple institutions in the northern and southern hemispheres, and exploits existing highly successful collaborations over the last decade. All partners work across multiple infections, including tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis B/C, cytomegalovirus, zika and coronavirus, and have ongoing collaborations in all regions of the world.
