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Brazil gets cut-price Aids drug Brazil gets cut-price Aids drug
(about 1 hour later)
Brazil has accepted an offer from a manufacturer of an important anti-Aids drug to cut its price by around 30%.Brazil has accepted an offer from a manufacturer of an important anti-Aids drug to cut its price by around 30%.
The move will save the country around $10m (£4.95m) a year.
The deal with Abbott over its drug Kaletra was hailed by Brazil's health minister as an example to other companies around the world.The deal with Abbott over its drug Kaletra was hailed by Brazil's health minister as an example to other companies around the world.
In May, the Latin American country broke the patent on another Aids drug and now imports a cheaper generic version from India. In May, it broke the patent on another Aids drug and now imports a cheaper generic version from India.
The deal with Abbott Laboratories comes at a time when major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly sensitive about the willingness of countries in the developing world to break drugs patents. Drug companies are increasingly sensitive about the willingness of developing nations to break patents.
Brazil did this for the first time earlier this year and is now importing cheaper generic versions of the drug Efavirenz from India and Thailand has bypassed a number of patents as well. Abbott says it is also offering to cut prices for 45 middle and lower-income developing nations.
Policy praised
The move will save Brazil around $10m (£4.95m) a year.
Brazil did this for the first time earlier this year, and is now importing cheaper generic versions of the drug Efavirenz from India.
Thailand has also bypassed a number of patents as well.
However on this occasion, an agreement was reached, a development that was welcomed by Health Minister Jose Gomez Temporao.However on this occasion, an agreement was reached, a development that was welcomed by Health Minister Jose Gomez Temporao.
He said it would be very promising if other companies were to follow the example of Abbott Laboratories.He said it would be very promising if other companies were to follow the example of Abbott Laboratories.
Brazil has been widely praised for its approach to combating HIV and Aids, which includes providing free drugs to patients.Brazil has been widely praised for its approach to combating HIV and Aids, which includes providing free drugs to patients.
The policy is thought to have cut Aids-related deaths by half, while in turn producing huge savings in hospital costs. The policy is thought to have cut Aids-related deaths by half, while producing huge savings in hospital costs, our correspondent says.
Abbott says it is also offering to cut prices for 45 middle and lower-income developing nations.