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Abbott and Government of Brazil Sign Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir) Supply Agreement


WEBWIRE

he Government of Brazil has accepted Abbott’s offer to supply Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir) tablets at the equivalent of US$1,000 per patient per year in that country and entered into a new agreement with the company.

The new agreement, signed by Brazil’s minister of health, José Gomes Temporão, and representatives of Abbott, follows the company’s announcement on April 10, 2007 that it would reduce the price of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) capsules and tablets to $1,000 in 45 low and low-middle income countries. The World Bank classifies Brazil as a low-middle income country and Abbott offered to enter into a new agreement with the government at the lower price. The new agreement replaces the existing agreement between Abbott and the Government of Brazil signed in 2005.

“We wanted Brazil to benefit from the same price we offered to other countries with its level of economic development,” said Heather Mason, vice president, Latin American and Canada Operations, Abbott. “The signing of this agreement symbolizes what can be achieved when governments and companies negotiate with the interests of patients in mind. It makes it easier for the Government of Brazil to afford medicine that a growing number of its people will need. Additionally, it assures Brazilian patients of access to a proven medicine that has received the WHO prequalification quality stamp of approval.”

Before the signing of the new agreement, Kaletra was already the lowest-cost protease inhibitor in Brazil in its category. However, according to the Brazilian Government, the new agreement will result in further savings of approximately $10 million for the Government of Brazil. At $1,000 per patient per year, Abbott’s LPV/r is more affordable than any generic copy of the medicine available today.

“We want to work with the Government of Brazil to support the Brazilian AIDS program and to ensure that people with HIV in Brazil have access to the proven medicines Abbott develops and produces,” added Mason.



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