Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of research carried out into paediatric formulations of antiretrovirals within the pharmaceutical sector in developing countries; and if her Department plans to incentivise research into that area.

A number of organisations, including pharmaceutical companies, generic drug manufacturers and product development partnerships are developing paediatric formulations of antiretroviral therapy, for use in developing countries. In addition to the existing UK tax incentives for pharmaceutical sector research and development, the UK Government supports UNITAID and the Global Fund, which provide a market for medicines, a powerful incentive for research and development.