Dear E-Druggers,
I would like to inform you of an article published today by Globalization and Health. The paper describes the history of policies of international organizations and the evolution of the (donor-funded) first-line antiretroviral (ARV) market in low- and middle-income countries.
The results show rapid evolution of a competitive market for generic 1st line ARVs shortly after the establishment of the Global Fund. The article also explains new challenges the international community faces in trying to create similar competition (and price reduction) for newer first line ARVs recently recommended by WHO.
The availability of three-in-one fixed-dose combination ARVs greatly facilitated rapid scale-up of HIV/AIDS treatment. But there are substantial barriers associated with development, production and use of three-in-one FDCs for newer 1st line regimens.
The article can be downloaded at:
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/6/1/9
On behalf of all co-authors,
Brenda Waning
Director of Pharmaceutical Policy
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA USA
email: bwaning@bu.edu