Abbott backs WHO on Aids drug access

Abbott has announced that it has reached an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the access of HIV/Aids treatment Aluvia (lopinavir/ritonavir) in the developing world.

Following meetings between the WHO and Abbott, the company will offer the governments of low and middle incomes and non-governmental organisations a price for treatment of $1,000 (505.16 pounds) per patient per year.

Consequently, Abbott will now begin discussions with relevant countries to broaden the number of patients administered with Aluvia.

Aluvia is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 in adults and children over the age of two as a combination treatment with other antiretrovirals.

“Abbott is taking this action in order to further increase access and address the debate around pricing of HIV medicines,” the company reports.

It adds that this method will increase the affordability of the treatments while retaining the system that facilitates the discovery of novel drugs.

Abbott notes that patents are necessary to incentivise continued research and development in the industry.

In August 2006, Abbott released a statement regarding current efforts to widen the access to lopinavir/ritonavir in the developing world, including maintaining a price of $2,200 per patient per year in low and middle-income countries, with a price of $500 per year in Africa and the least developed countries.