UNITAID HIV patent pool could save over $1 billion a year, put pressure on AIDS drugmakers

In a move that could put pressure on HIV/AIDS drugmakers to ease control of their patented products, yesterday the French-backed health fund UNITAID said that its executive board has made a landmark decision to establish a Patent Pool for AIDS medicines. The organization's founder members include the UK, Chile, Brazil, Norway and France.

The pool, scheduled to start operating in mid-2010, aims to make newer medicines available in patient-adapted form, at lower prices, for low- and middle-income countries. UNITAID has committed to provide start-up funds of up to $4 million over the next year. Expected savings exceed $1billion a year, which will make more medicines available for more people.

'This is an historic day,' said Philippe Douste-Blazy, chairman of UNITAID's executive board, noting that 'UNITAID has now put in place a mechanism that will make medical advances work for the poor, while compensating companies for sharing their technology.'