AHF blames drug firms for slow ARV uptake

The USA-headquartered AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a non-governmental organization which has a history of criticizing drug firms (Marketletters passim), has blamed US drugmakers Gilead Sciences and Merck & Co for allegedly making "little progress" in registering the HIV/AIDS combination therapy Atripla (efavirenz 600mg/emtricitabine 200mg tenofovir dioproxil fumarate 300mg). A third USA-based drug firm, Bristol-Myers Squibb, which is also involved in the drug's development, is not included in the AHF's attack.

Michael Weinstein, the group's president, said Atripla "is a standard therapy in the USA. It is on the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List and...could greatly benefit patients everywhere while reducing costs in the long term." Despite a major dispute between the AHF and Cipla (Marketletter August 20), Mr Weinstein suggests Atripla be out-licensed to the Indian generic drug major.