Low-Cost AIDS Drugs for Africa

Didanosine (Videx) and stavudine (Zerit) will be available to treat AIDS patients in every country in Africa that wishes to participate for only US$1.00 per day, according to an announcement from Bristol-Myers Squibb (New York, NY, USA), the maker of the drugs.

The drugs will be made available under the Access partnership Bristol-Myers has with international agencies, including UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, World Bank, UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund. The prices of the drugs, below Bristol-Myers' cost, will be 15 cents per day for stavudine and 85 cents per day for didanosine.

Bristol-Myers has also announced that the company will ensure that its patents do not prevent inexpensive HIV/AIDS therapy in Africa. The patent for stavudine will be made available at no cost to treat AIDS in South Africa under an agreement Bristol-Myers has concluded with Yale University (New Haven, CT, USA), which owns the patent rights. Bristol-Myers also is expanding it philanthropic "Secure the Future” program by pledging an additional US$15 million, raising its total level of commitment to $115 million. This initiative works with African governments and communities to bring local solutions to the AIDS epidemic.

"This is not about profits and patents; it's about poverty and a devastating disease,” said John L. McGoldrick, executive vice president. Bristol-Myers Squibb. "The facts are clear: the African continent is at risk, health infrastructure needs are huge, and urgent action is needed now.”



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