Victory! Colombian Government Cuts Price of Abbott's Lifesaving AIDS Drug Kaletra 55%...( Advocates Claim Victory as Government...),Health

Advocates Claim Victory as Government Cuts & Freezes Price at $1,067 USD for Public Institutions and $1,591 USD for Hospitals, Clinics & Private Sector--55% Less than Abbott's Previous Colombian Price

Since January, Colombian, Mexican & US AIDS Advocates Protested Steep Price of Drug in Developing Countries; Compulsory License in Colombia Would Further Cut Price to Less Than $600/Patient/Yearly

MEXICO CITY, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Colombian and international AIDS advocates and activists claimed victory today after the government of Colombia announced that it will cut the price of Abbott Laboratories' lifesaving AIDS drug, Kaletra to $1,067 USD for the public sector hospitals and clinics and $1,591 USD for the private sector. Government officials had asked the Chicago-based pharmaceutical giant to voluntarily lower the price; however, the company refused. As a result, Colombia invoked its power to cut and freeze the price of the key AIDS drug. The cut represents a roughly 55% price reduction in Colombia, where Abbott previously charged the private sector approximately $3,500 USD per patient yearly for the drug.

"Colombia's action today to cut the price for Abbott's Kaletra is of major importance, a move that will undoubtedly help save many, many lives by making lifesaving AIDS drug regimens more widely available in the country. We salute the tireless AIDS activists and advocates on the ground who raised awareness through protests and media outreach that helped keep this issue in the forefront. I am not aware of another instance in which the government of a country came in and cut and put a price ceiling on an AIDS drug." said Clint Trout, MPH "However while this is an important victory, we call on the Colombian government to accede to local activists demands to issue a compulsory license for Kaletra, which would allow Colombia to purchase the medication
'/>"/>