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Abbott agrees to expand HIV drug access and affordability
13th Apr 2007
Abbott has agreed to expand access to its blockbuster HIV therapy Kaletra/Aluvia (lopinavir + ritonavir) to over 40 low income countries and NGOs at the reduced price of US $1,000/patient/year. In a deal initiated by the WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, Abbott looks set to promote affordable international public health by offering the drug at a lower cost than that of generic version of the drug and approximately 55% less than the average discount price.
In a statement to the press, Abbott declared that it was taking this course of action to address HIV drug pricing issues, and increase global access by 'increasing affordability while preserving the system that enables the discovery of new medicines'.
The ongoing struggle to strike a fair balance between ethical drug prices and the retention of revenue to support sustainable drug development was highlighted recently by the Thai government's controversial decision to issue a compulsory licence for Kaletra. Abbott retaliated by subsequently refusing to launch any further new drugs in Thailand. In light of the access expansion to Kaletra, Abbott has reopened the door to negotiations with the Thai government, stating that more work needs to be done to achieve a positive outcome. Thai health officials in return stated that they would consider a renewed discount price offer for anti-AIDS drugs. This latest move appears to offer new hope in setting the standard for ethical drug prices, access and affordability of life-saving HIV therapies in low and low-middle income countries.
