A foundation headed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton will lead a new effort to provide cheaper generic drugs to HIV/AIDS patients in 60 countries.
The Clinton Foundation reported — the drugs to be made by Indian drug companies Cipla Ltd. and Matrix Laboratories Ltd. will be what are called second line anti-retrovirals, which are used when other treatments don’t work.
The foundation also mentioned that the deal will help cut drug costs by up to 50 percent and treat about 7 million patients in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, who currently cannot afford a treatment.
Clinton said in a speech at the foundation’s New York office:
Less than a year after the launch of an AIDS treatment that is one pill, once a day, which is so much easier for people to take, we are announcing a price of less than a dollar a day for developing countries. The pill will have the drugs tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz.
Clinton said that the agreement was made in partnership with international drug purchase facility Unitaid and the two Indian companies were able to cut costs by using cheaper materials and improved technique.
The foundation also provides access to lower-priced Aids drugs in 65 countries. Some 750,000 people are now receiving AIDS drugs purchased through the Clinton Foundation.
The AIDS virus infects nearly 39 million people globally, and has killed 25 million people since it was identified 25 years ago.
