[Ip-health] Pepfar, Generics, Price

[robert weissman]

Pepfar has released its 2007 annual report to Congress. There's a huge
amount of information in the report. See:

http://www.pepfar.gov/press/c21604.htm

Information on treatment provision is in chapter two. Through Sept 2006,
Pepfar says it is providing support to 822,000 people receiving
antiretroviral therapy.

The treatment chapter also contains important and useful information on
Pepfar's use of generics and pricing data, starting on page 67. Key points:

- Fourteen of 15 focus countries are said to be using some generics.

- Overall expenditure in FY 2006 for ARVs was just under $110 million,
with about 27 percent of that spent on generics.

Comparison of brand-name vs. generic prices for combination therapies
(page 72):

AZT/3TC/NVP
Brand-name: $701
Generic: $273

AZT/3TC/EFZ
Brand-name: $606
Generic: $487

D4T/3TC/NVP
Brand-name: $594
Generic: $165

D4T/3TC/EFV
Brand-name: $498
Generic: $380