- Merck (NYSE:MRK) extends a royalty-free license to the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for its pediatric formulations of raltegravir (marketed as Isentress in the U.S.) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in infants and children from four weeks to under 12 years of age in developing countries. This is the MPP's first agreement that provides access to an HIV integrase inhibitor for use in combination HIV therapy for patients in this age range.
- Raltegravir is the only integrase inhibitor cleared for use in infants and children as young as four weeks in the U.S. and European Union. Pediatric formulations are available as chewable tablets (25 mg and 100 mg) and granules for oral suspension (single-use 100 mg packets).
- There are ~3.2M children infected with HIV worldwide.
- The MPP, founded in 2010, is a United Nations-backed organization that aims to increase access to HIV medicines and technologies to people in developing countries. It has agreements with AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY), Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD), Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY), NIH and ViiV Healthcare (NYSE:PFE) (NYSE:GSK).