An innovative approach to expanding access to newly developed and potential future HIV drugs has been launched by way of a new patent pool by the international health financing agency, UNITAID. Sharing patents through the pool should help to reduce drug prices by allowing pharmaceutical companies to share new formulations in exchange for receiving royalties for their research and development.

Phillipe Douste-Blazy, chair of UNITAID, said the pool “represents an additional tool to increase access to HIV treatment, and an opportunity for patent holders to voluntarily contribute to the attainment of crucial health related goals endorsed by the international community.”

He said that his agency had consulted widely with a “variety of stakeholders” from communities living with …