The link between HLA types and HIV disease progression has been known for over a decade now from, among others, analyses of data from the Multi-Center AIDS Cohort (MACS). McMichael and colleagues have also documented CTL escape through the mutation…
Outrage, Indifference Greet Plans for Worldwide Treatment Agenda -- As Millions More Die By Mark Harrington "No Drugs in Time for Her" In April, Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, said it would take just $7-10 billion a year to…
Call for Poor Country Focus on Treatment, Care Programs Elicits Voice of Concern from Vaccine Outfit By Mark Harrington Price of Global Public Health HIV $4.06 billion TB $500 million Malaria $1.0 billion Add'l. infrastructure $440 million TOTAL, Yrs…
The Not So Accelerated Access Initiative By Mark Harrington In early April the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) held a small, secretive meeting in Hsbjr, Norway, on "Differential Pricing and Financing of Essential Drugs." Initially,…
Roche’s Valganciclovir is Recommended for Approval On 27 February at the sad and lonely Gaithersburg Holiday Inn, the FDA’s Antiviral Drug Advisory Committee (ADAC) held a hearing to discuss Hoffmann-La Roche’s NDA for valganciclovir for the treatment of CMV retinitis…
Government Experts Roll Back the Big Guns, And Slither Away to Trenches ‘Inferences, hints and clues’ Mark Harrington writes, “As someone who’s spent the last twelve years of my life trying to encourage more and better AIDS research, and has…
End Stage Liver Disease Emerges As Leading Cause of Death in PWAs with Hepatitis C “While many people with HIV are living longer, more productive lives,” Michael Marco explains,” a good many who are also co-infected with the hepatitis C…
Twelve Years in Coming On February 27th the FDA's Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee met to consider an application for approval of Hoffmann-La Roche's valganciclovir for the treatment of CMV retinitis in people with AIDS. Michael Marco prepared this position paper…
Bemoaning Virtual Monotherapy In January the Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA met to discuss the trial design for salvage therapy in HIV infection. TAG's Yvette Delph was there and prepared this report. The meeting, chaired by Roy Gulick…
The Cost of Generic Drugs in Brazil Indinavir Efavirenz USA $6,000(1) $4,700 Brazil (generic) $2,928 $2,545 Brazil (Merck 2001) $1,029 $920 "Low" HDI(2) country $600 $500 Price per year per person. Human Development Index of the United Nations, composite…