AFRICA/KENYA - Each day 500 people die of AIDS: country acquires patent to produce ‘copies’ of antiretroviral drugs

Thursday, 21 October 2004

Rome (Fides Service) - A Kenyan pharmaceutical company has been given permission to use the patent of a major European company to produce generic antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. In exchange the European company will receive 5% of the profit of sales of the drugs, marketed at very low prices, in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
The idea championed for a long time by organisations for the rights of the sick of producing ‘copies’ of antiretroviral AIDS therapy drugs, still too expensive for most Africans, , has been adopted by many governments.
Kenya is the second country to have this opportunity, first obtained by South Africa in July this year.
Africa is the continent most affected by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that in Kenya, where 9% of a population of 32 million is HIV+ and AIDS patients occupy between 50% and 60% of hospital beds, AIDS kills more than 500 people a day Kenya. Production of ‘copies’ of antiretroviral drugs could cut the prices by 50%. (AP) (22/10/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:20; Parole:205)


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