GSK announces price reductions for HIV medicines in developing countries

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced new price reductions to its antiretroviral range of products offered on a non-profit basis in the world’s developing countries.

The price cut marks the fifth time since 1997 that the company has reduced prices as part of its preferential pricing policy.

Applying to a selection of GSK’s medical products, the average price cut is 21 per cent with Ziagen oral solution seeing the most significant reduction of almost 40 per cent.

The price changes will take effect immediately for public sector customers and non-profit organisations in the Least Developed Countries and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as countries with eligible Global Fund and PEPFAR projects.

GSK confirmed that price changes had been informed by improvements and efficiencies in manufacturing and supply as well as reductions in the costs of active ingredients.

JP Garnier, chief executive officer at GSK, described the “devastating impact” that HIV/Aids had on the developing world.

“This further reduction in pricing of our HIV medicines demonstrates GSK’s ongoing commitment to patients in the world’s poorest countries,” he added.

It was suggested this week that GSK had delivered disappointing figures in its recent management comments.