Health News
2005-09-21
Glaxo’s
patent on AZT expires
GlaxoSmithKline’s patent on Retrovir (AZT), the first
approved anti-HIV drug, expired on Saturday, and
health expert
GlaxoSmithKline’s patent on Retrovir (AZT), the first
approved anti-HIV drug, expired on Saturday, and
health experts expect several low-cost generic
versions of the drug to quickly become available both in
the United States and abroad, The [Raleigh,
N.C.] News & Observer reports. Retrovir
currently costs about $2,200 for a one-year supply, down
significantly from its initial price tag of about
$10,000 when the drug debuted in 1987. But
pharmaceutical experts say generic versions of the drug
could cost as little as $105 for a one-year supply.
Drug companies in India, China, and some African
countries already produce generic versions of AZT for
use in developing nations, but experts say U.S.-made
generics could be even cheaper than those medications.
The patents on Glaxo’s multidrug combination
pills that include AZT—Combivir and
Trizivir—will not be affected by the expiration
of AZT’s patent. (Advocate.com)
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