HIV/AIDS drugs for Sub-Saharan Africa: how do brand and generic supply compare?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Significant quantities of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to treat HIV/AIDS have been procured for Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time in their 20-year history. This presents a novel opportunity to empirically study the roles of brand and generic suppliers in providing access to ARVs.

Methodology/principal findings

An observational study of brand and generic supply based on a dataset of 2,162 orders of AIDS drugs for Sub-Saharan Africa reported to the Global Price Reporting Mechanism at the World Health Organization from January 2004-March 2006 was performed. Generic companies supplied 63% of the drugs studied, at prices that were on average about a third of the prices charged by brand companies. 96% of the procurement was of first line drugs, which were provided mo

SUBMITTER: Chien CV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1805689 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature