MSF Calls for Replication and Expansion of Successful Efforts to Reduce AIDS Drug Prices

For Immediate Release:
Contact in Durban: Kris Torgeson, [phone]
PRESS RELEASE
MSF CALLS FOR REPLICATION AND EXPANSION OF
SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO REDUCE AIDS DRUG PRICES
Durban, South Africa, 9 July 2000 - On the eve of the XIII International AIDS
Conference, the medical aid agency M6decins Sans Frontieres (MSF) released a report
demonstrating how some developing countries have already significantly reduced the prices
of AIDS drugs, and suggested steps to replicate and expand upon these successes.
By producing quality generic medicines, countries such as Brazil have made AIDS drugs
affordable to tens of thousands of people who would otherwise go untreated because they
could not afford branded products. Through an analysis of ten essential drugs for HIV/AIDS
in 8 countries, the report, entitled "HIV/AIDS Medicines Pricing," shows how the minimum
price for AIDS drugs in the developing countries studied is on average 82% less than in the
US. This difference has not resulted from discounts by multinational companies, but rather
from generic competition and initiatives by national governments.
In parallel to the efforts of individual countries, the report also recommends the UN, led by
UNAIDS, should develop a system to facilitate the bulk purchasing of AIDS drugs by
putting out a tender to multinational pharmaceutical drug companies and local and
international generic producers.
"We are using antiretroviral treatment in our program here in South Africa to reduce the
transmission of HIV to newborns, so we know these drug can be safely and effectively used
in a resource-poor setting," said Eric Goemaere, M.D., Head of Mission, MSF-South
Africa. "We would like to expand this program to the treatment of adults, but we are
blocked by high drug prices. We are doubtful that current approaches, including drug
donations and vague promises of price reductions, will benefit our patients anytime soon. In
contrast, if generics were available in South Africa, we could treat patients tomorrow."
In the report, MSF challenges the international community to take immediate steps to bring
antiretroviral prices down to levels that would be affordable to people in developing
countries. The report states that through dramatically expanded generic production and bulk
purchasing, the price of antiretroviral treatment could be reduced to as little as US$200 a
year. This target price contrasts sharply to US$2,250 price that would result from the
recently announced UNAIDS public-private partnership (85% reduction off the current

global price of triple drug therapy of $15,000).
I5II I57 05II I01.IIII 0I III IN III II II III I II II
5571095.0160.010