Creation of life-saving HIV 'patent pool'
Submitted by admin on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 00:43
"A decision by UNITAID on December 15, 2009 to approve the implementation of an innovative patent pool for HIV drugs was heralded as a great victory in the fight for access to HIV treatment by AIDS activists and NGOs...
...The patent pool will help to tackle a growing crisis in the AIDS pandemic. HIV becomes resistant to treatment over time and those on treatment need to move onto newer, more effective drugs. Patent laws mean that these second-line drugs are many times more expensive than the older first-line medication. Currently 97% of those on treatment in the developing world are on first-line drugs. As more and more need the newer drugs to stay healthy, the cost becomes impossible for the developing countries to cover. The patent pool will foster generic competition to bring these prices down to a sustainable level."
