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28/04/2003
HIV drugs prices to Third World slashed by half
The prices of some HIV/Aids treatments are set to be reduced by almost half in an attempt to relieve pressures on Third World treatment programmes, it has been revealed today.
British-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said that it will reduce prices of its HIV/AIDS medicines by up to 47%, and the reduction will lower the 'not-for-profit' price of Combivir - the main WHO-recommended HIV/AIDS treatment - to around $0.90 per day.
More efficient manufacturing processes, say GSK, have afforded price reductions to cash-strapped health services in countries – particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa – which are struggling to cope with growing numbers of patients.
Jean-Pierre Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "These price cuts demonstrate our commitment to making vital medicines more affordable through sustainable preferential pricing. In June 2001, when we expanded our access programme, we promised to continue to find ways to reduce costs and pass those savings on to patients. We did that in September 2002, and today we are again delivering on our promise."
In addition to Combivir, GSK has also reduced the 'not-for-profit' price of other HIV/AIDS medicines – Epivir (3TC) is now struck at $0.35 per day, and Retrovir (AZT) at £0.75 per day (reductions of 45% and 38% respectively). The price cuts will effect patients in a total of 63 countries.
Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short welcomed the move, and voiced her hope that it would influence other companies in driving down the prices for "much-needed drugs".
She added: "We must complement this by a combined effort to build basic health systems in developing countries. We need to be clear, no matter how cheap the drugs, most poor people will not receive them because there is no health system that reaches them. This is the priority for the next 10 years if we are to meet the challenge of the Millennium Development goals."
Richard Feachem, Executive Director of The Global Fund, said: "The Global Fund welcomes this announcement as another step towards dramatically expanded access of antiretrovirals to the millions of people who need them."
Mr Feachem added that the initiative should be matched by governments allocating extra resources to buy medication, as well as commitments by "public and civil society partners at the local level to ensure their effective delivery".
GSK is the leading supplier of HIV/AIDS medicines, providing almost twice as many antiretrovirals as the second largest supplier.
(GMcG)
British-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said that it will reduce prices of its HIV/AIDS medicines by up to 47%, and the reduction will lower the 'not-for-profit' price of Combivir - the main WHO-recommended HIV/AIDS treatment - to around $0.90 per day.
More efficient manufacturing processes, say GSK, have afforded price reductions to cash-strapped health services in countries – particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa – which are struggling to cope with growing numbers of patients.
Jean-Pierre Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "These price cuts demonstrate our commitment to making vital medicines more affordable through sustainable preferential pricing. In June 2001, when we expanded our access programme, we promised to continue to find ways to reduce costs and pass those savings on to patients. We did that in September 2002, and today we are again delivering on our promise."
In addition to Combivir, GSK has also reduced the 'not-for-profit' price of other HIV/AIDS medicines – Epivir (3TC) is now struck at $0.35 per day, and Retrovir (AZT) at £0.75 per day (reductions of 45% and 38% respectively). The price cuts will effect patients in a total of 63 countries.
Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short welcomed the move, and voiced her hope that it would influence other companies in driving down the prices for "much-needed drugs".
She added: "We must complement this by a combined effort to build basic health systems in developing countries. We need to be clear, no matter how cheap the drugs, most poor people will not receive them because there is no health system that reaches them. This is the priority for the next 10 years if we are to meet the challenge of the Millennium Development goals."
Richard Feachem, Executive Director of The Global Fund, said: "The Global Fund welcomes this announcement as another step towards dramatically expanded access of antiretrovirals to the millions of people who need them."
Mr Feachem added that the initiative should be matched by governments allocating extra resources to buy medication, as well as commitments by "public and civil society partners at the local level to ensure their effective delivery".
GSK is the leading supplier of HIV/AIDS medicines, providing almost twice as many antiretrovirals as the second largest supplier.
(GMcG)
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