E-DRUG: TB drug prices fall 94%
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Press Release WHO/35
19 July 2001
PRICE OF VITAL TB DRUGS REDUCED BY AS MUCH
AS 94% THROUGH WHO PARTNERSHIP
GENEVA-People suffering from the deadly strains of multidrug-resistant
tuberculosis
(MDR-TB) now have access to high quality "second line" drugs at sharply
reduced prices
and to a system designed to promote the use of the drugs in the most
effective manner,
thanks to international efforts led by the World Health Organization,
M�decins Sans
Fronti�res and Harvard Medical School.
Some countries will be able to save as much as 94% of their current spending
on the
drugs needed to treat MDR-TB. M�decins Sans Fronti�res (MSF) was
instrumental in the
negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry for the second line drugs,
which currently
cost as much as US $19,000 to treat one person. The World Health
Organization (WHO)
and its international partners are helping countries to ensure that these
drugs are used
effectively and providing technical support to improve the treatment
available to sufferers
of MDR-TB.
"International approaches to reducing TB drug prices show that the
international TB
partnership can make a significant difference to people suffering from
multidrug-resistant
TB," said Dr Gro Harlem Brundltand, Director-General of the World Health
Organization.
WHO is also working to ensure proper use of these drugs via a multiagency
collaboration
known as the "Green Light Committee", which assists countries benefiting
from the
reduced prices in planning their intervention to achieve the best possible
treatment
outcomes. The cut in drug prices coupled with ensuring rational use through
extensive
country assistance will help to quickly provide treatment to patients and
contribute to the
rapid development of a global policy on the treatment of MDR-TB.
"WHO and our partners will provide teams of experts to help countries use
these
expensive but vital anti-TB drugs supplied through this effort properly and
safely, in order
not to develop further drug resistance," said Dr J.W. Lee, Director of Stop
TB at WHO. He
added, "WHO demonstrates leadership in setting the scientific standards and
in providing
effective MDR-TB drug treatment."
WHO emphasizes that new drugs and tools for managing TB are still a priority
concern,
and increased donor support will be needed.
Every year, 1.7 million people die unnecessarily because of TB. In recent
years, outbreaks
of MDR-TB in public institutions (hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters)
in the United
States, Europe and Latin America have caused many deaths and raised concerns
about
epidemic transmission of MDR-TB.
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For further information, please contact Daniela Bagozzi, Office of the
Spokesperson, WHO, Geneva.
Telephone: (+41 22) 791 4544; Fax: (+41 22) 791 4858; E-mail:
bagozzid@who.int All WHO Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Features as well as
other information on this subject can be obtained on Internet on the WHO
home page http://www.who.int/
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