Dolutegravir, an HIV treatment – Fair Use
A groundbreaking report reveals that modifying the ingredients or manufacturing process of commonly used medicines can significantly reduce carbon emissions. The reduction is estimated at 26 million tons, equivalent to offsetting the carbon footprint of Geneva for ten years. This change is already in progress and has resulted in substantial emission savings.

Dolutegravir (DTG), a life-saving HIV treatment, is currently used by 24 million people globally. Over 110 low and middle-income countries have adopted DTG as their preferred treatment option due to its effectiveness and affordable cost. Licensing the medicine to generic manufacturers has driven down prices further, with an estimated 1.1 million lives expected to be saved from HIV/AIDS-related deaths by 2027.

DTG’s predecessor, efavirenz, contained three active compounds totaling 1200 milligrams. In contrast, DTG contains just one compound amounting to 650 milligrams. This minor difference led to a significant reduction in the carbon emissions footprint of the medication by a factor of 2.6.

This discovery was highlighted in a recent report by Unitaid, a global public-private partnership that invests in health products for low and middle-income countries. The report, titled ‘Milligrams to Megatons,’ is the first to compare carbon footprints between commonly used medications.

The authors of the report state, “This magnitude of carbon footprint reduction surpasses many hard-won achievements of climate mitigation in health and other sectors.”

Since DTG’s production and treatment implementation in 2017, it has resulted in 2.6 million fewer tons of CO2 entering the atmosphere annually compared to if efavirenz was still the standard treatment option. The global medical sector’s carbon emissions are estimated to be roughly 5% of global emissions, larger than many countries and 2.5 times that of aviation.

Vincent Bretin, Director of Unitaid’s Results and Climate Team, told Health Policy Watch, “This report demonstrates that we can achieve significant health improvements while also making strides in reducing carbon emissions. By adopting innovative practices and prioritizing sustainability, we can ensure that medicines like DTG are not only effective but also environmentally responsible.”

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Source: Good News Network