ICAP was a key contributor to the “Toolkit for Research and Development of Paediatric Antiretroviral Drugs and Formulations” recently launched by the World Health Organization (WHO). Developed under the umbrella of the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations initiative, the toolkit aims to facilitate faster, more efficient, and focused development of new formulations for the effective treatment of infants, children and adolescents living with HIV.
“By bringing together the collective experience of the leading experts in pediatric HIV drug development and research, this toolkit is well poised to greatly accelerate the availability of new treatments for infants, children, and adolescents living with HIV infection,” said Elaine Abrams, MD, ICAP’s senior research director, who helped bring the toolkit to publication.
“The toolkit also provides a fantastic platform to inform and expedite drug development for other infectious diseases where poor access to pediatric treatments continues to result in avoidable morbidity and mortality,” Abrams said.
ICAP has developed other toolkits for health care workers treating children and adolescents or counseling families of children living with HIV on ARV adherence and viral load testing. ICAP’s viral load toolkit is available online in English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili.
ICAP also offers toolkits to support prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, and to train adolescent peer educators to facilitate groups for adherence and psychosocial support. These and other toolkits can be accessed on ICAP’s website.
