14/08/2026
Fundación GEP in Argentina and VNP+ in Vietnam, both members of the Make Medicines Affordable campaign, argue that the patent applications on paediatric dolutegravir (DTG), an important HIV treatment for children, from ViiV Healthcare do not meet requirements for novelty and inventiveness.
Why does this matter?
Paediatric formulations are designed to give children doses that are appropriate for their age and weight. Yet children remain disproportionately affected by HIV.
Globally, around 2.4 million children and adolescents are living with HIV, and while children make up only 3% of people living with HIV, they account for 12% of AIDS-related deaths.
In Argentina, rejecting the applications could keep the technology in the public domain and allow local and publicly owned laboratories to manufacture paediatric DTG without monopoly restrictions.
In Vietnam, VNP+ argues that turning an already known combination of dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine into a dispersible tablet, including adding flavours or sweeteners, is a predictable adaptation rather than a new invention.
The patent oppositions aim to protect competition, local production and access to affordable HIV treatment for children.
https://itpcglobal.org/2026/08/14/civil-society-groups-in-argentina-and-vietnam-challenge-patents-on-paediatric-dolutegravir/
Fundación GEP and the Viet Nam Network of People Living with HIV (known as VNP+), members of the Make Medicines Affordable campaign, have filed oppositions against patent applications by ViiV Healthcare covering paediatric formulations of dolutegravir (DTG), one of the most widely used antiretrovir...
