AIDS is now the leading killer in sub-Saharan
Africa, where 23.3 million people have HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS. With only one-tenth of the world's
population, the region has two-thirds of the world's
HIV-positive cases. In some countries, as many as
one in every four people are thought to carry
HIV, many of them below the age of 25.
The
15-member Security Council declared AIDS an issue
affecting peace and security. The United States this
month made it a national security matter.
Five
firms may cut HIV drug prices for poor nations
Five large pharmaceutical firms have agreed for the
first time to discuss with the United Nations sharply
reduced prices for HIV drugs for developing nations,
especially in Africa.
The five companies are -- Merck & Co Inc.,
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. ,Glaxo-Wellcome PLC of Britain ,
Boehringer Ingelheim of Germany and Roche Holding AG, a
unit of F. Hoffmann-LaRoche of Switzerland.
It is a major move towards making the drugs affordable
for millions of people at prices lower than in the West.
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