GSK to Reduce Price of Some Anitretrovirals Sold in Developing Nations

Drug Access | GSK To Reduce Price of Some Antiretrovirals Sold in Developing Nations

[Jun 01, 2006]

GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday announced that it is reducing by about 30% the cost of some of its antiretroviral drugs currently sold at not-for-profit prices in developing countries, Reuters reports. Under the cost reductions, which will take effect on July 1, 60-tablet packs of Trizivir and Ziagen will cost about $70.00 and $52.29, respectively (Reuters, 5/30). The drug company also announced that it will make Kivexa and Telzir available at not-for-profit prices once they have been approved by drug regulatory bodies in developing nations (GSK release, 5/30). GSK plans to differentiate drug shipments intended for not-for-profit markets to ensure they are not diverted back to for profit markets. In addition, the company has signed its eighth voluntary licensing agreement with South Africa-based Sonke Pharmaceuticals, which will allow Sonke to make generic versions of some of its drugs (Reuters, 5/30). In 2003, GSK announced that it was reducing the price of its AIDS drugs by as much as 47% for 63 nations, including all of sub-Saharan Africa. The reduced pricing scheme is available to not-for-profit groups, governments, aid agencies and companies that provide the drugs to their employees (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/28/03).

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