Global specialist HIV company ViiV Healthcare has appointed Axmed as a non-exclusive distributor to enable procurement and supply of ViiV Healthcare HIV medicines in more than 50 middle-income countries, subject to applicable local regulatory requirements. This agreement aims to offer a simpler route to access more choice in HIV care to support countries’ HIV response.
Axmed is a technology-enabled business-to-business platform that connects healthcare procurers in low- and middle-income countries with suppliers to provide access to medicines.[i] Through their technological solutions, local governments and healthcare institutions in these countries will be able to lower procurement costs and deliver efficient logistics supporting their healthcare systems to stretch resources further and reach more people.[ii]
Middle-income countries often face distinct access challenges, and many are not eligible for some lower-income access mechanisms, leaving people at risk of being left behind.[iii] This underscores the importance of finding technology-enabled solutions and models to support health systems in expanding access to HIV medicines.
Deborah Waterhouse, CEO at ViiV Healthcare said, “This agreement underlines ViiV Healthcare’s leadership in the global HIV response and our deep understanding of the realities in middle-income countries. Shaped by listening closely to communities and governments, this announcement is an important step in supporting them to access more choice in HIV care, strengthen health systems and accelerate progress towards our shared goal of ending the HIV epidemic.”
Emmanuel Akpakwu, CEO and Founder of Axmed said, “The promise of medical innovation is only fulfilled when it reaches the people who need it. Technology gives us an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine how that happens, connecting fragmented markets, unlocking more affordable procurement and streamlining access to vital medicines. Through this agreement with ViiV Healthcare, we are working towards a future where more people can benefit from advances in HIV care, regardless of where they live.”
ViiV Healthcare and Axmed share a commitment to improving access to medicines in countries where health systems face challenges. As the number of people living with HIV continues to rise, this agreement supports ViiV Healthcare’s ambition to broaden access to medicines through partnerships, programmes and technologies.[iv]
About ViiV Healthcare
ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 with GSK (LSE: GSK) and Shionogi as current shareholders. The company is dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. ViiV Healthcare’s aims are to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com.
[i] Axmed. About. https://www.axmed.com/about
[ii] Axmed. Impact Report 2025: Building the Infrastructure for Access. 2025.
[iii] UNAIDS (2026) Special Report: United to End AIDS, Available at: Global HIV response falters as reemergence looms | UNAIDS
[iv] UNAIDS. Fact sheet 2026: Global HIV & AIDS statistics. 2026.
