Gilead lowers
price of anti-HIV drugs in poor nations

Gilead Sciences announced it is reducing the prices it charges developing nations for its anti-HIV drugs Truvada and Viread. Through its access program, Gilead sells the drugs at no profit to a group of 97 developing countries. The lower prices are possible, Gilead said, thanks to increased economies of scale, a new factory in the Bahamas, and manufacturing improvements that have lowered costs. The move cuts the countries' costs for Viread by 31% to $17 per patient per month and for Truvada by 12% to $26.25 per patient per month. Viread's inventors have waived their royalty rights on sales to the participating countries; Viread is contained in the combination treatment Truvada. (AP)