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People in the developing world diagnosed with drug-resistant HIV will soon benefit from lower prices on medications thanks to a deal between former President Bill Clinton’s foundation and two drug companies.
As part of the agreement, Mylan will lower the annual price of four antiretroviral drugs that are used as a second line of treatment when patients develop a resistance to the first drugs they are treated with.
Drugmaker Pfizer will also cut the cost of a drug that can be used in conjunction with the drugs in patients who have tuberculosis.
Speaking about the deals Mr Clinton said: “This will help drugs reach hundreds of thousands more people and save hundreds of thousands of more lives. This is a very big deal.”
Under the agreement Mylan will reduce the annual cost of the antiretroviral drugs atazanavir, ritonavir, tenofovir and lamivudine to under $500 (£298).
In addition from 2010 the pills will be packaged together and sold for an annual price of $425 (£253), 28% lower than the current lowest-priced alternative.
Meanwhile, Pfizer will sell the tuberculosis drug rifabutin at $1 (£0.60) per dose, 60% lower, or $90 (£53) for a full, six-month treatment.
Copyright Press Association 2009
