BBC: Clinton brokers cheap AIDS drugs deal

[Fencer128]

Hi,

I found this link to the story.

Four companies that produce generic Aids drugs have agreed to reduce the cost of the drugs for millions of people in developing countries under a deal brokered by former US President Bill Clinton.

Nine countries in the Caribbean, as well as Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania will receive the low-cost medication.

The agreement was reached after advisors from the William J Clinton Presidential Foundation worked with the drugs firms to find ways to cut costs.

Under the deal, the price of a generic triple-drug regimen will be less than 40 cents a day, as opposed to more than $1.50 for the same patented medicines.

Seems like its taken a long time to do the right thing. I'm thinking *possible* dent in profits (as the consumers of these can't afford the drugs at normal prices anyway, and these discounted supplies are only limited to AIDS saturated but poor markets) and a few job losses pales into comparisson against the suffering of tens of millions of men, women and children.

Not a solution to the problem by any means, but a significant step in helping to alleviate the suffering of those who already have the disease.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Andy

 

[XZeroII]

What does this mean for people in developed countries? Still $10/day?

 

[heartsurgeon]

why didn't he do this when he was Pres for 8 YEARS..

i hate to sound cynical, but don't you think he did this now to counter the charges that Bush has actually done more for
Africa and AIDS treatment (with his announcement of a large AIDS initiative/monetary pledge) than Clinton ever did..

he's (clinton) just trying to shore up his legacy folks....

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
why didn't he do this when he was Pres for 8 YEARS..

i hate to sound cynical, but don't you think he did this now to counter the charges that Bush has actually done more for
Africa and AIDS treatment (with his announcement of a large AIDS initiative/monetary pledge) than Clinton ever did..

he's (clinton) just trying to shore up his legacy folks....

Did generic aids drugs in the single pill form even exist during the majority of Bill Clintons presidency? I thought they were mostly in the R+D stage back then, and in the few years afterwards they were an exclusively Western thing with no companies in India etc. making generics.

Aren't retroviral drugs a relatively new thing?

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
why didn't he do this when he was Pres for 8 YEARS..

i hate to sound cynical, but don't you think he did this now to counter the charges that Bush has actually done more for
Africa and AIDS treatment (with his announcement of a large AIDS initiative/monetary pledge) than Clinton ever did..

he's (clinton) just trying to shore up his legacy folks....

BTW: Clinton was consistently blocked on his efforts to fund education programs in third world countries through such agencies as the WHO, UNICEF, etc. as well as USAID, and a variety of other NGO's due to congressional opposition to programs involving family planning, and reproductive rights. Education would have made this situation far less grave.

 

[Fencer128]

Wow. I thought the big point was that drugs were given cheaper in poorer countires. Not that Clinton was involved!

What does this mean for people in developed countries? Still $10/day?

I bet a lot that the difference for a poor person (probably with government help in most developed countries) paying 10$/day for treatment is orders of magnitude less of a burden than a poor person in a developing country paying anything near that price.

Andy

 

[heartsurgeon]

Aren't retroviral drugs a relatively new thing?

no.

they were available during the entire Clinton presidency
his "recent" efforts to bring cheap drugs to africa didn't require the support of the U.S. Congress.....
like i said..he didn't do anything while he was pres...so why now? he is trying to bolster HIS image and place in history.

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon

Aren't retroviral drugs a relatively new thing?

no.

they were available during the entire Clinton presidency
his "recent" efforts to bring cheap drugs to africa didn't require the support of the U.S. Congress.....
like i said..he didn't do anything while he was pres...so why now? he is trying to bolster HIS image and place in history.

Generic retrovirals were available during the entire Clinton presidency?

Maybe he just wants to help?

 

[heartsurgeon]

Generic retrovirals were available during the entire Clinton presidency?

you are changing the question..

i'm not sure that "generic drugs" are available now for the "triple" cocktail

if you note from the article, drug companies in india and south africa "will" be making this cocktail available.

i'm not certain this cocktail will be entirely generic either.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon

Aren't retroviral drugs a relatively new thing?

no.

they were available during the entire Clinton presidency
his "recent" efforts to bring cheap drugs to africa didn't require the support of the U.S. Congress.....
like i said..he didn't do anything while he was pres...so why now? he is trying to bolster HIS image and place in history.

Wow. Is this what the anti-Bush folk sound like whenever something good that Bush did gets mentioned?

 

[Corn]

Wow. Is this what the anti-Bush folk sound like whenever something good that Bush did gets mentioned?

Yep, pretty much, or worse......

Remember, Bush does nothing unless it's either politically expedient or that he and/or his croneys will directly benefit monitarily from.....

 

[sMiLeYz]

I don't believe what Clinton is trying to do is politically motivated, rather motivated by his conscience.

As for above comments from Gaard and Corn, I disagree. Whenever I've seen Bush do a "good thing" I give praise where it's due. Most people here consider me part of the anti Bush crowd. However, I'm more of a pragmatist than a partisan.

Heres an example:
The Bush 15 Billion aid package

 

[Corn]

....rather motivated by his conscience.

True charitability is anonymous in nature.

 

[Corn]

Heh, clicked you link............

From CPA:

Wow a compliment from sMiLeYz to Prez Bush. The planets must be aligned just right today.

Shock and awe!!!!!

 

[tallest1]

Bush contributed money for cheap AIDS drugs but IIRC not only is a small fraction of the money actually getting there but surprise, surprise, he has a pharmecutical big wig running the operation.

Now this is a big IIRC (because I haven't slept much) but I think Bush wanted to use that money to promote abstinence instead.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: Corn

....rather motivated by his conscience.

True charitability is anonymous in nature.

I totally agree. Just look at my tax returns and the lack of receipts for contributions.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
why didn't he do this when he was Pres for 8 YEARS..

i hate to sound cynical, but don't you think he did this now to counter the charges that Bush has actually done more for
Africa and AIDS treatment (with his announcement of a large AIDS initiative/monetary pledge) than Clinton ever did..

he's (clinton) just trying to shore up his legacy folks....

What did Bush do for Africa? I don't remember him donating either his own time or money to help Africa. Last time I checked the American taxpayers are the ones footing the bill, not Bush.

 

[jahawkin]

Originally posted by: sMiLeYz
I don't believe what Clinton is trying to do is politically motivated, rather motivated by his conscience.

As for above comments from Gaard and Corn, I disagree. Whenever I've seen Bush do a "good thing" I give praise where it's due. Most people here consider me part of the anti Bush crowd. However, I'm more of a pragmatist than a partisan.

Heres an example:
The Bush 15 Billion aid package

Unfortunately, I don't think Congress has appropriated a penny of that $15mil.

 

[SuperTool]

You rightwingers miss no chance to bash Clinton, even when he brokers a great deal that will save countless lives.
Rightwingers benefitted greatly under Clinton presidency, they should be kissing the ground he walks on. There is a reason why Clinton defeated Bush1,Dole, and that silly attempt to remove him from office.
He delivered results, and American people backed him. Now you rightwing nuts want to rewrite history and undermine a man that you failed to undermine while he was in office. Even when the extreme right pulled out all the stops and visciously attacked Clinton on every front, the American people still backed him. It's sour grapes, and you guys are a bunch of sore losers.
That's all there is to say.

 

[heartsurgeon]

motivated by his conscience.

HAHAHAHAHA

that is the best chuckle i've had in ages....

tears are streaming from my face...

can't breath....

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

I doubt any of US Pharma's cash crops expired during the Clinton era. Furthermore, Congress (and the FDA) were still allowing multiple patent challenges against generics. In addition, economically viable treatment requires a cost well under $1/d (I think article mentions 40 cents). . . and that assumes massive subsidies from NGOs/wealthier nations.

The cocktail combo pill is new as it combines out-of-patent or soon to expire patent drugs. One of the biggest current Pharma scams is revised formulation to extend patent life (and expand market share). The combo pill is another version of this strategy but it has the added benefit of actually being a useful way to dose multiple medications.

Two cheers for Bill for doing something decent.

 

[Zebo]

Clintons Still working for the foriegners I see.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Clintons Still working for the foriegners I see.

Did Clintons waste $87Billion in Iraq?

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: Zebo
Clintons Still working for the foriegners I see.

Did Clintons waste $87Billion in Iraq?

No but if he did'nt ship all those taxable jobs to mexico the 87B would be easier to swallow.

Both are wrong from a fiscal responsibility perspective. Still does'nt negatate the fact clinton was in foriegners back pocket and big business.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
You rightwingers miss no chance to bash Clinton, even when he brokers a great deal that will save countless lives.
Rightwingers benefitted greatly under Clinton presidency, they should be kissing the ground he walks on. There is a reason why Clinton defeated Bush1,Dole, and that silly attempt to remove him from office.
He delivered results, and American people backed him. Now you rightwing nuts want to rewrite history and undermine a man that you failed to undermine while he was in office. Even when the extreme right pulled out all the stops and visciously attacked Clinton on every front, the American people still backed him. It's sour grapes, and you guys are a bunch of sore losers.
That's all there is to say.

Whatever his intentions are, what hes done probably will save millions of lives. It just goes to show the kind of character the people who attack him are, especially for something as noble as this.