Sources: The Lancet
We, the UNITAID board members representing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, are writing to you to express our deep concern that Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) is to close a factory in France that manufactures a second-line antiretroviral medicine for children with HIV/AIDS who weigh less than 10 kg: buffered didanosine in the 25 mg formulation.
Closing this factory means that 4000—7000 babies currently enrolled in treatment plans in developing countries through UNITAID could be left without the medicines they need. Didanosine is the last therapeutic option for these babies and without it they could die. We understand that closure of the plant will take place in June of this year, with no plans for resumption of production before April, 2011, at the earliest, when a new plant is due to open. Therefore there is likely to be a shortage of about 15 000 packs of didanosine 25 mg across all UNITAID beneficiary countries between now and when production is expected to resume in April, 2011.
Currently, there is no alternative generic product that has been assessed by WHO and prequalified for use by UN agencies. We urge you, as the Chief Executive Officer of BMS, a company that prides itself on its high standards of corporate responsibility, to respond urgently to our concerns, outlining the steps you will take to avoid any treatment interruption. We would also like your confirmation that a BMS plant will resume production of this vital medicine in 2011.
