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Cavidi Signs Agreement With the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative to Lower Costs of HIV Monitoring

Posted on: Friday, 30 November 2007, 03:00 CST

UPPSALA, Sweden, November 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Cavidi AB, a producer of medical diagnostic products, today announced an agreement with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI). Under the agreement, Cavidi's ExaVir(TM) Load assay will be immediately available to members of CHAI's Procurement Consortium at a discounted price. With more than 70 developing countries in the consortium, the agreement is a significant step in making viral load monitoring more accessible to HIV-positive patients in the developing world.

Viral load monitoring is essential for the proper management of HIV-positive patients being treated with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The test helps doctors use ARVs more effectively to extend a patient's length and quality of life, limit the development of viral resistance and minimize waste of medication. "Viral load testing is an essential part of HIV management. As more people in the developing world gain access to ARVs, it's important that access to viral load testing keeps pace," said Cavidi CEO Martyn Eales. "It's Cavidi's goal to make monitoring more accessible in all countries. I'm very pleased with our partnership with President Clinton's Foundation because it brings us closer to reaching that goal."

Although viral load monitoring has been a standard part of treatment in developed countries, it has been considered impractical for use in developing nations where HIV infection is most widespread. That is because traditional viral load tests are expensive and require technically advanced laboratory facilities. ExaVir Load is the first HIV viral load test designed to overcome these obstacles. Several independent studies have shown the assay to be as accurate and reliable as any other commercially available test, with the added benefit of being able to detect all known subtypes of HIV. This is particularly important in regions like sub-Saharan Africa where different HIV subtypes are common.

"We face a global HIV/AIDS emergency and laboratory tests are a vital component of HIV/AIDS care and treatment," said Deepak Verma, CEO of CHAI. "The success of treatment programs is dependent not only on the ability to diagnose and qualify HIV-positive patients for therapy, but also to monitor treatment efficacy and safety and to manage disease treatment. We are pleased to work with Cavidi and commend them for helping to make HIV viral load tests available at lower cost to members of our Procurement Consortium."

About Cavidi AB

Cavidi AB was founded by leading virologists at Uppsala University in Sweden in 1984. The company's mission is to make medical diagnostics more accessible in those parts of the world where resources and infrastructure are limited. Their products include ExaVir Load and ExaVir Drug, which are used in HIV management. For press photos and more information, please visit, http://www.cavidi.com/

About Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI)

Since 2002, CHAI has been assisting countries in implementing large-scale, integrated HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs. It partners with 28 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. Individual governments take the lead and CHAI provides technical assistance, mobilizes human and financial resources, and facilitates the sharing of best practices across projects. CHAI also provides access to reduced prices for HIV/AIDS drugs and diagnostics to more than 70 countries.

For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/ For further information and interview requests please contact: Kajsa Lowenhielm Information Manager, Cavidi AB Mobile: +46-709-42-90-50 kajsa@cavidi.se

Cavidi AB

CONTACT: Kajsa Lowenhielm, Information Manager, Cavidi AB, Mobile:+46-709-42-90-50, kajsa@cavidi.se

Source: PRNewswire

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