Roche, Global Fund to Build Diagnostic Capacity of HIV, Tuberculosis

Roche’s Global Access Program and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, recently partnered to build and strengthen diagnostic capacity and pandemic preparedness in low-and-middle-income countries fighting HIV and tuberculosis (TB).  

Roche and the Global Fund joined forces to improve the diagnosis of HIV and TB in low-and-middle-income countries by building capacity to tackle fundamental infrastructure challenges for generating and delivering diagnostic results and managing healthcare waste.  

The initiative includes building effective processes to collect and transport test samples and return the results to patients for timely clinical interventions. The companies will also address challenges arising from a lack of network infrastructure, workforce capacity, access to roads, and IT systems.  

Additionally, the partnership will reduce the environmental and economic burden of healthcare waste generated during the testing process and the disposal of medical devices at the end of its life.   

“Roche is excited to join forces with the Global Fund and their partners to support countries in developing critical diagnostic networks in the global fight against HIV and TB,” Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche Diagnostics, said in the announcement.  

“Connecting our experts with critical local stakeholders, we are aiming to help build sustainable solutions that could be scaled across countries,” Schinecker continued.  

First, Roche will support assessments and implementation of new technologies and knowledge transfer in two or three pilot countries through the collaboration with the Global Fund, the Ministries of Health, and country-based partners.  

The overall goal is to scale up and expand support in 10 countries over the next five years. 

In 2014, Roche launched its Global Access Program to support the UNAIDS 2020 targets to address the HIV/ AIDS pandemic. Since then, the company has expanded the program to include solutions for other high-burden diseases, including TB, Hepatitis B and C, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).  

An estimated 2 billion people worldwide are diagnosed with tuberculosis annually. And currently,  37 million people are living with HIV. But over 6 million people are undiagnosed. 

In January 2021, FDA approved ViiV Healthcare’s Cabenva, the first and only complete long-acting injectable HIV treatment for positive adults. Then in April 2022, FDA approved ViiV Healthcare’s fixed-dose combination of abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine to treat pediatric patients with HIV.