UNAIDS — On our way to the World Economic Forum in Davos!

The Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima is on her way to the World Economic Forum in Davos to alert leaders that breakthrough HIV medicines are set to give the world a shot at ending AIDS. 

She will call on leaders to act with urgency to ensure widespread access to the new innovations which, with just twice-yearly injections, have proven to be more than 95% effective in preventing HIV. They could be set to revolutionize HIV prevention, and trials are underway to unlock their potential for long-acting treatments for HIV.  

UNAIDS will warn of the consequences of inaction. When antiretroviral treatments first emerged in the 1990’s, they were inaccessible to millions in the Global South. This caused the deaths of 12 million people in Africa between 1997 and 2000 and millions more contracted the virus. 

This time, the world has to do better. Pharmaceutical companies must lower prices and ensure widespread access to these life-saving medicines. Governments must encourage innovation and the development of new medicines and combinations, prioritize funding and reform unfair systems that stifle progress, including debt relief and fairer trade rules. 

With the help of these new technologies ending AIDS could be within reach much sooner than was previously thought. 

UNAIDS is calling on world leaders to seize this revolutionary opportunity, act with urgency, and ensure these game-changing innovations are available to everyone, everywhere. 

UNAIDS will call for ambition, global solidarity and collaboration:

• Pharmaceutical companies must reduce prices and fast-track the availability of long-acting HIV medicines, such as Lenacapavir. 

• Broader generic licensing must include regions like Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV infection rates remain high. 

• Increased donor contributions must be made to global initiatives like The Global Fund and PEPFAR to strengthen HIV prevention and treatment efforts. 

• Debt relief, fair trade policies, and tax reforms must be made to support developing countries in creating fiscal space for health and HIV responses. 

UNAIDS KEY EVENTS AT #WEF25

Tuesday 21 January - 09:30 – 10:00 CET

Beginning of the End of AIDS  

Recent breakthroughs in long-acting medicines to prevent and potentially treat HIV could revolutionize the AIDS response. As science moves forward at pace, how can we overcome barriers to access and scale these innovations to ensure a future free from AIDS? 

Join the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria Peter Sands, and Lancet Countdown Chair Helen E. Clark for an in-depth discussion on these critical issues. 

More info

Wednesday 22 January - 13:15 – 14:00 CET

Health beyond Healthcare  

Significant gaps in healthy lifespans persist between and within regions, with up to 80% of health outcomes determined by factors outside the healthcare system.

How can we tackle these gaps by addressing both non-medical factors, such as socioeconomic status and education, while improving care outcomes and equity in traditional medical settings?

More info

Friday 24 January - 09:00 – 09:45 CET

Rewriting Development 

Some 6 billion people live in middle-income countries yet growth in many of these economies is stagnating or slowing due to global disruptions. 
How can leaders challenge the status quo to overcome a premature slowdown in development? 

More info