Companies reduce prices for HIV drugs in developing countries.

This article reports the decision of pharmaceutical companies to reduce the prices of anti-HIV drugs in developing countries. It is stated that some of the companies have pledged to sell the pharmaceuticals at prices just above the manufacturing costs, at a discount of up to 90%. This strategy is part of an unprecedented effort to combat AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Participating companies include Glaxo Wellcome, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hoffman-La Roche and Merck & Co. Experts say that lowering the price of medicines is not the sole solution to the problem, but new efforts also must be introduced to improve prevention, medical infrastructure, international funding, and political involvement. On the other hand, President Bill Clinton issued an executive order regarding the actions of the US Trade Representative's office against nations who seek access to cheap drugs. The ruling provides that the office can no longer threaten trade sanctions against developing nations that use the intellectual property rules of the World Trade Organization to gain access to cheaper drugs.