Essential HIV drug Viracept price reduced for developing countries
From Monday, February 24, 2003
Even with Roche reducing the price of one of the essential drugs Viracept used in treating HIV it is still baffling where George W. Bush came up with the low price he quoted in his State of theUnion address when he announced his $15B HIV/AIDS relief for Africa. Of equal concern is the lack of importance given by the Bush White House to those living with HIV within our borders. Responses to Roche's price move according to this Wall Street Journal story (subscription required)
But international humanitarian groups charged that Roche didn't cut Viracept's price as much as its competitors. Also, the groups said they often couldn't secure from local suppliers the discount price that Roche had pledged.
...Roche said it has taken steps to make sure the price of Viracept and other AIDS drugs are consistent and clear. In sub-Saharan Africa and other countries defined as "least developed" by the United Nations, an annual regimen of Viracept will cost about $900 a patient at current exchange rates, compared with $3,300 currently.