Canada approves Viread

Health Canada has approved for sale the HIV nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor Viread for use as part of combination therapy in the treatment of HIV infection. The medication is already available in the United States and the European Union. No Canadian price has been determined for the medication, which could slow its approval for inclusion on subsidized drug lists and other formularies of Canada's various provincial and territorial health care programs. In the United States one month's supply of the medication costs about $433.