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MEETING WITH CIPLA
- WHO and UNAIDS welcome the commitment of pharmaceutical
companies to improving people’s access to care for HIV
infection. One of these companies, Cipla, has announced its offer
to work with MSF to bring HIV-related medicines at affordable
prices to the people who need them in developing countries.
- A meeting took place today at WHO between staff from Cipla, WHO,
UNICEF, UNAIDS, the European Commission and MSF, in order for the
UN organizations to get clarification on a range of issues
relating to Cipla’s recent offer to make reduced price triple
combination therapy available in developing countries.
- Issues raised included pre-qualification, registration
requirements, supply logistics, technology transfer and validity
of patents.
- WHO and UNAIDS noted that an overall framework to combating the
HIV/AIDS epidemic and other serious infectious diseases in poor
countries is a priority. This framework must encompass prevention,
care, treatment and healthcare systems development. Moreover,
ensuring that antiretroviral and other AIDS drugs reach those who
need them and are used effectively means that questions of
financing and clinical feasibility will also have to be addressed.
- The information supplied by Cipla today will be evaluated to see
how Cipla’s offer can be included in the information that the UN
makes available to interested governments and nongovernmental
organizations through its Accelerating Access Initiative.
- The approach of the UNAIDS Cosponsors and the Secretariat is to
help countries identify all legitimate suppliers of affordable
medicines of assured quality, including those in both the generics
industry and the research and development-based industry.
- The UN has identified, through a public call for Expressions of
Interest to manufacturers of HIV-related pharmaceuticals and
diagnostic equipment, 34 suppliers of HIV-related medicines and
diagnostics, 29 of which are from the generics industry. An
analysis of these offers will be made publicly available in
mid-2001. Cipla’s offer will be included in this analysis.
For further information, journalists can contact Mr
Gregory Hartl, WHO Spokesperson, Geneva. Mobile (+41 79) 203 6715;
Telephone (+41 22) 791 4458; Fax (+41 22) 791 4858. Email: inf@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/ |
