On Monday, October 29, four pharmacy chains and one wholesaler filed a lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories over the price of its antiretroviral drug Norvir (pharmalot.com/The Wall Street Journal, 10/30).
Safeway, Walgreen, Kroger, Supervalu’s New Albertson’s and American Sales accuse Abbott of abusing its monopoly as the sole provider of Norvir when it increased the drug's price in 2003.
An Abbott spokesman has said that the suit is without merit.
Two HIV-positive people in California and the Service Employees International Union Health and Welfare Fund have already sued Abbott. That suit is scheduled to go to trial in June 2008.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I think that it's OK to be angry. I am sometimes—it's natural—we are HIV positive. but I always try to not let myself stay there too long. Let yourself feel you are human. You should not beat yourself up about being angry."
