The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has extended its 2013 agreement that will provide sublicensed generics of HIV treatment antiretroviral, which is approved by the World Health Organization.

The MPP has allowed Bristol-Myers Squibb to deliver atazanavir to an additional 12 countries, adding to the original 110 countries from the 2013 agreement.

The countries to be added are Algeria, Cook Islands, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Niue, the Philippines, Tunisia, Ukraine and Vietnam, covering 89 percent of people living with HIV in low-to-middle-income countries.

Since the 2013 agreement, generic manufacturing partners have distributed nearly 100 million  doses in 63 countries. 

"We are pleased by the continuing progress made to that end through our licensing agreements with the MPP," Amadou Diarra, head of global policy, advocacy and government affairs with Bristol-Myers Squibb, said.

Likewise, doctors around the world are eager to receive this lifesaving medication.