PHA-Exchange> Abbott to cut AIDS drug price in 40 poor countries

[claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn]

- from Vern Weitzel <vern at coombs.anu.edu.au> -----
 
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/11/worldupdates/2007-04-
11T024421Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-293754-1&sec=worldupdates

Abbott to cut AIDS drug price in 40 poor countries
By Kim Dixon

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories Inc., widely criticized for aggressive 
pricing of its AIDS 
medicines in developing countries, said on Tuesday it would slash the price of 
a key AIDS drug by 
more than half in more than 40 poor countries.

Abbott said it would offer its drug Kaletra at a price of $1,000 per patient 
per year -- a price 
lower than generic versions -- to governments of more than 40 countries with 
low and low-middle 
income, as defined by World Bank criteria.

The move is an apparent attempt to cool tensions with its critics, amid a spat 
with the government 
of Thailand over AIDS drug pricing.

The company has had a worse-than-average reputation with AIDS patient groups, 
notably after a 400 
percent price hike it set a few years ago for another AIDS drug. Advocates 
were mixed on the 
significance of the Kaletra announcement.



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