UNIVERSAL

UNIVERSAL is a European-African Project that will develop treatments for children living with HIV.

We have designed and conducted The project will develop, evaluate and register two new antiretroviral formulations for infants and children newly diagnosed with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy, and for children failing first-line therapy who need to switch to a new treatment regimen.

These two new formulations contain approved drugs already used in adult care in high-income settings: dolutegravir combined with emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide; and darunavir/ritonavir.

The project involves 15 partners from Cameroon, Spain, Netherlands, Uganda, France, Mali, United Kingdom, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, United States and Zimbabwe.

Visit the UNIVERSAL project website

What is UNIVERSAL?


UNIVERSAL is a European-African Project that will develop treatments for children living with HIV. The project will develop, evaluate and register two new antiretroviral formulations for infants and children newly diagnosed with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy, and for children failing first-line therapy who need to switch to a new treatment regimen. The project involves 15 partners from Cameroon, Spain, Netherlands, Uganda, France, Mali, United Kingdom, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, United States and Zimbabwe.

Why is UNIVERSAL needed?


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

What is UNIVERSALs goal? 


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 whose first-line therapy is failing.

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.