OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 6.00pm
UNITED States pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb on Thursday announced it is launching a $100-million programme to address the growing HIV/Aids crisis in southern Africa. Partners in the initiative are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland the United Nations.
SABC1 news reports, however, that the firm intends testing on Southern African volunteers a drug not yet approved by the US. The report says that the drug has only been approved by one country so far: Mexico.
The project, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, has the support of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who, in a written message released at the conference, called it a “historic effort.”
It will consist of two components — The Bristol-Myers Squibb HIV Research Institute and the Community Outreach and Education Fund.
The former will, according to the firm, will “facilitate medical research focusing specifically on women and children with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.”
“The company expects this research to generate clinically relevant data that can be used by the African medical community and policymakers to develop a range of practical, cost-effective treatments for resource-limited settings.”
SABC1 news reports the company expects more than 20000 people to take part in the clinical trials. “The magnitude of the Aids crisis — particularly in Africa — makes partnerships between the public and private sectors critical if we are to make headway in developing effective therapies and helping people in need,” Annan said.
In addition, African doctors and health care workers will be given specialist training locally in the care of HIV/Aids patients under training schemes administered by the US-based Baylor College of Medicine.
Direction for the programme will be provided by a scientific advisory board that will include representatives of the five governments, UNAIDS, the Harvard Aids Institute and unnamed other major medical institutions.
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