Global drug prices: what is on offer today?

This article is more than 24 years old.

This table summarises the latest information provided by companies regarding the prices at which they are currently offering antiretrovirals to resource-poor countries, and the terms of the offers.

Some of these offers are being made through the UNAIDS Accelerating Access Initiative; others are being offered through programmes established by the companies themselves.

We will update this table regularly as more information becomes available. Any information on prices of generic alternatives would be welcomed; despite repeated efforts over the past few weeks we have been unable to establish the prices offered by manufacturers of generic antiretrovirals.

Glossary

generic

In relation to medicines, a drug manufactured and sold without a brand name, in situations where the original manufacturer’s patent has expired or is not enforced. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as branded drugs, and have comparable strength, safety, efficacy and quality.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) brings together the resources of ten United Nations organisations in response to HIV and AIDS.

Generic name

Brand name

Initials

Manufacturer

Discount price

Special provisions

Generic alternative

Lopinavir/ritonavir

Kaletra

N/a

Abbott

c.$1,000 per year

Africa

(available to private sector or company health plans and NGOs, as well as govts)

None

Ritonavir

Norvir

N/a

Abbott

c. $1,000

Africa

(available to private sector or company health plans and NGOs, as well as govts)

India

Saquinavir

Fortovase

N/a

Roche

c. $1300 if dosed once daily with ritonavir, or $2400 if dosed at 1200mg three times daily

Available to least developed nations at negotiable prices - Roche is seeking to offer the drug at cost and offer research grants to those providing clinical care

none

Indinavir

Crixivan

N/a

Merck

$600 per year

Africa

Romania

Haiti

Brazil

Available to NGOs and company health plans, as well as govts

 

efavirenz

Stocrin

N/a

Merck

$500 per year

Africa

Romania

Haiti

Brazil

Available to NGOs and company health plans, as well as govts

 

stavudine

Zerit

D4T

Bristol Myers Squibb

15 cents a day/$54 per year

Not available to private sector/company health plans

Thailand

Brazil

India

didanosine

Videx

ddI

Bristol Myers Squibb

80 cents per day

Not available to private sector/

company health plans

Not patented in Africa

Thailand Brazil

India

nevirapine

Viramune

 

Boehringer Ingelheim

Free as two doses for mother and infant treatment

$1.22 per day for adult dosing ($445 p.a)

Maternal/infant treatment free to all non-EU countries (also excludes USA, Canada, NZ, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland)

India: Cipla (Nevimune$340 p.a)

Zidovudine and lamivudine

Combivir

AZT and 3TC

Glaxo Smith Kline

$2 per day

Developing countries - govts, NGOs and workplace initiatives where suitable medical infrastructure exists, via UNAIDS

Accelerating Access Initiative

Brazil

India

Zidovudine

Retrovir

AZT

Glaxo Smith Kline

95% reduction on "average global price"

As above

Brazil

India

Abacavir

Ziagen

N/a

Glaxo Smith Kline

As above

As above

none

Lamivudine

Epivir

3TC

Glaxo Smith Kline

58 cents per day

As above

Brazil

India

zalcitabine

Hivid

ddC

Roche

Available at cost

 

Brazil