Study on generic HIV drugs prompts AHF to demand Gilead cuts ARV prices

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that provides a snapshot of a simplified cost/benefit analysis of the potential economic savings gained by use of generic antiretroviral therapy to treat people with HIV/AIDS versus the slightly reduced efficacy of the drugs prompted advocates from the USA-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to reiterate its call on Gilead Sciences, a key maker of branded AIDS drugs, to reduce pricing on its key AIDS drugs such as Atripla (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).and Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), as patents expire.

The study reported that billions of dollars in health care cost savings could be achieved through the use of generic antiretroviral therapy; however, the study also reported slightly reduced efficacy of the generic drugs.