HIV Treatment Alerts - June 2004
Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS

Since the last issue of this newsletter (October 2003), much has happened at The CFA. Our founder, L. Joel Martinez (who stepped down as Director in early 2003), lost his battle with cancer. Over the December holidays, a dedicated member of our editorial board, Norma Brown, RN, also passed away quite unexpectedly. In the midst of these losses, we watched in disbelief as Abbott Laboratories decided to cash in on its protease inhibitor Norvir (commonly used in small doses to "boost" the levels of other, less toxic protease inhibitors) by raising the price by more than 400% and ensuring that its own boosted product, Kaletra, became the cheapest boosted protease inhibitor on the market. Then came the announcement recently that more than 1200 people in the US are on waiting lists for life-saving HIV medications. Some people on waiting lists have even died because they could not access HIV medications. Funding for HIV services and medications is being slashed (see page 10). Even research dollars are in jeopardy. Drug companies are raising their prices while reporting solid, if not record, earnings. What in the world can we do? The answer is simple: fight back. Energize, organize, and mobilize. AIDS activism has certainly changed over the years, but it is not dead. With greater pressures on the HIV/AIDS community, sleeping giants will awaken. To tap into what is happening in activism today (lawsuits, boycotts, and demonstrations against Abbott and other groups; government actions; campaigns and conferences), contact and join the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (www.atac-usa.org).

AIDS is the single most devastating epidemic to ever affect humankind. Some politicians, industry executives, and others are making decisions that adversely affect people living with the disease both in the US and abroad; they should reconsider their positions and tactics immediately.

20040610
RI040601

Copyright © 2004 - Research Initiative Treatment Action (RITA!). Reproduced with permission. RITA! is published by The Center for AIDS. Contact Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS, Editor, RITA! for permission to reproduce RITA!. tom@centerforaids.org. http://www.centerforaids.org

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1985, 2004. ÆGiS . All materials appearing on ÆGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of ÆGIS , or the party credited as the provider of the content.