HEALTH

Abbott agrees to lower price of Aids drug

US-based drug maker Abbott Laboratories has agreed to lower the price of its Aids drug Kaletra from 5,938 baht per patient per month to 3,488.20 baht. Siriwat Tiptaradol, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) secretary-general, said the new price could make Kaletra cheaper than the generic version.

The firm's proposal to cut the drug price is seen as a means to end the dispute with the Public Health Ministry over the high price of Kaletra that led to the ministry's decision to break the drug patent earlier this year.

Speaking after yesterday's meeting with representatives from patent-holding companies, Mr Siriwat said Abbott insisted that it disagreed with the issuance of compulsory licenses, so it opted for a discount on the drug's price instead.

Aids Access Foundation's director Nimit Tienudom hailed the firm's discount proposal.

''This is what the patients and health activists have been waiting for. This is apparently a consequence of the government's decision to break the drug patent,'' said Mr Nimit.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Wednesday April 11, 2007