Clinton Group Makes Cheap AIDS Drug Deal

Foundation Gets Drug Makers To Lower Prices On Treatment For Low, Middle Income Nations

(AP)  Former President Bill Clinton announced agreements with drug companies Tuesday to lower the price of so-called "second-line" AIDS drugs for people in the developing world and to make a once-a-day AIDS pill available for less than $1 a day.

The anti-retroviral drugs are needed by patients who develop resistance to first-line treatment and currently cost 10 times as much as first-line therapy, Clinton said. Nearly half a million patients will require these drugs by 2010.

Clinton's foundation negotiated agreements with generic drug makers Cipla Ltd. and Matrix Laboratories Ltd. that he said would mean an average savings of 25 percent in low-income countries and 50 percent in middle-income countries. He said the companies collaborated with the foundation to lower production costs, in part by securing lower prices for raw materials.

The reduced-price, once-daily pill combines the drugs tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz.

Clinton, seen at left during a conference earlier this month, said the new price of $339 per patient per year would be 45 percent lower than the current rate available to low-income countries and 67 percent less than the price available to many middle-income countries.

"This is very important to me personally," Clinton said. "No company will live or die because of high price premiums for AIDS drugs in middle-income countries, but patients may. I believe in intellectual property and ensuring that manufacturers earn the profit margins they need to keep the discovery and supply of AIDS drugs sustainable. But that shouldn't prevent us from getting essential life-saving medicines to those who need them in low and middle-income countries alike."

The Clinton Foundation's activities are being financed by UNITAID, an organization formed by France and 19 other nations that have earmarked a small portion of their airline tax revenues for HIV/AIDS programs in developing countries.

UNITAID will provide the foundation with more than $100 million to buy second-line medicines for 27 countries through 2008.

"Every person living with HIV deserves access to the most effective medicines, and UNITAID aims to ensure that these are affordable for all developing countries," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, chairman of UNITAID's board, said in a statement.

Since starting its HIV/AIDS Initiative in 2002, the Clinton Foundation has worked with 25 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia to set up AIDS treatment and prevention programs.

The foundation also provides access to lower-priced AIDS drugs in 65 countries. Some 750,000 people are now receiving AIDS drugs purchased through the Clinton Foundation.

[frankbowers]

How sad that con&&&&& writes why did he not do this for Americans while in office. Who ever wrote this seems toforget he did try but the republicans control Congress would not bring it up for him to sign.Instesd the RNC and the Republican Controlled Congress seem to favor the big drug companies as they do even now and will not allow the democrats to pass such a law as they do not have the 60 votes to do so only 51 may be next election year they will have the votes and will i wonder what the folks will write then why did they wait so long how sad. the best of good byes frank bowers of austin, tx.

[beej1216]

Grow up, people. This article is about the good work being done today to save lives. Let the past go and focus on today.

[beej1216]

Grow up, people. This article is about good work being done to help save lives. Focus on the current work being done and let the past go.

[consciousnes]

Why is Clinton so worried about drug prices now, he should have done something for the American People to lower drug prices in the US while he was President. Also, his wife should be workning on doing something right now instead of spending millions of dollars on campaigning.
If all the money spent on campaigning were used to help homeless and low income people, we could build whole cities and provide jobs for thousands.

[rushman71]

I wouldn't be surprised if he is handing out free cigars to all the ladies helping him in the process.

[consciousnes]

Clinton so worried about drug prices now, he should have done something for the American People while he was President. Also, his wife should be workning on doing something right now instead of spending millions of dollars on campaigning.
If all the money spent on campaigning were used to help homeless and low income people, we could build whole cities and provide jobs for thousands.

[rushman71]

Is Monica Lewinski still helping, too. I wonder if she is using knee pads this time.

[carlylaine]

Are his pants up or down? I refuse to take him seriously.

[carlylaine]

Are his pants up or down for this?

[rharrin1]

Clinton does more for people while not in oval office than bush does while in office.