Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - May 18, 2004
The administration won plaudits last year when it announced a $15 billion program to combat AIDS in poor nations. But that deserved applause turned into dismay when the administration balked at paying for the treatments the World Health Organization deemed the most effective. These medications, from foreign manufacturers, combine three patented AIDS drugs into a single pill that is cheaper and far easier to take than the individual drugs. The administration said it had doubts about the safety of the combined pills, but it might also have wanted to protect its patrons in the drug industry.
Now, in a stunning change of course, Tommy Thompson, secretary of health and human services, has announced an expedited review process by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety of the combination pills. He has also offered assurances that patent issues will not impede purchases of these drugs for poor countries.
Any country receiving grants from the main international AIDS program was already able to buy the generic pills with that money. The main effect of the administration's new policy is that American funds will be available. Some health advocates grumble that Washington is piling on an unnecessary level of review. But if the administration felt it needed F.D.A. review to ensure safety and efficacy, or even simply to save face, the result can only be beneficial to millions of infected individuals.
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