Mylan, Elton John AIDS Foundation donate $1 million to end mother-to-child HIV transmission in Nigeria

PITTSBURGH — Drug maker Mylan and the Elton John AIDS Foundation will donate $1 million to the Business Leadership Council for a Generation Born HIV Free, the two said.

The BLC's goal is to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria, which is home to 3.4 million people living with the disease, and about 60,000 children were newly infected with it in 2012 alone, the highest rate in the world, according to UNAIDS. In Nigeria, mother-to-child transmission of HIV has remained at 30% despite its virtual elimination in other countries, such as the United States and Botswana.

"Mylan is proud to commemorate World AIDS Day by announcing this important partnership with EJAF and BLC to reach more HIV-positive pregnant women in Nigeria," Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said, adding that 40% of people receiving treatment for HIV in developing countries rely on a Mylan product. "Ending transmission of HIV from mother to child is an important step in ending AIDS."