Business
Viatris Named Fifth on Fortune's Change the World List
Fortune Recognizes Viatris for Expanding Access to Innovative HIV Medicines, Particularly in Low- and Middle-income Countries PITTSBURGH, Oct. 11, 2021
About this update from Viatris Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Fortune Recognizes Viatris for Expanding Access to Innovative HIV Medicines, Particularly in Low- and Middle-income Countries\n\n\nPITTSBURGH, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS), a new kind of global healthcare company, today announced that Fortune has named the company fifth out of 53 on its Change the World list. The annual ranking showcases companies that have had a positive societal impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. Viatris is featured on the listing for its work through public-private partnerships to expand access to innovative HIV drugs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.\n\"We are honored that Viatris has been named to Fortune's prestigious Change the World list. When we created Viatris nearly a year ago with the vision to see healthcare not as it is, but as it should be, we set out with a strong foundation in corporate social responsibility and a deep commitment to meeting some of the world's most pressing health needs,\" said Viatris Chief Executive Officer Michael Goettler. \"Our efforts around expanding access to innovative HIV medicines is a great example of the positive impact we can make to provide sustainable access to high-quality medicine, regardless of geography or circumstance. Further, we believe our ability to apply this business model to other areas of unmet need, such as biosimilars access globally, is a unique value proposition for the stakeholders we serve.\" \nViatris has operated as a catalyst not only to expand access to more affordable versions of existing antiretrovirals (ARVs) through licensing agreements with brand-innovator companies, but also to develop new therapies more suitable for patients in low- and middle-income countries. For example, we:\nIntroduced the first low-cost regimen based on dolutegravir, the World Health Organizations' recommended first-line treatment for HIV, for $75 per year for people in low- and middle-income countries. Launched a pediatric version of dolutegravir in the form of strawberry-flavored dispersible tablets (Previously, it has been challenging to treat children with HIV because children require special formulations, since they cannot swallow tablets or capsules, and many drugs come with bitter taste that make them hard for kids to take). Lowered the cost of treatment for children in lo...