HIV meds have become Big Pharm’s biggest profit maker in the United States, outselling those for any other ailment, the Los Angeles Times reports (latimes.com, 2/21).
According to the article, the fact that patients have to be on the drugs for a number of years, the growing trend to treat the newly diagnosed early, and inventions such as the once-a-day pills that make the treatment easier can be credited for this pharmaceutical economic boom. In addition, the rising number of new infections in some communities has given the industry a much larger consumer base in recent years.
The company benefiting the most from HIV medication sales is California-based Gilead Sciences Inc., the makers of Truvada. Their ARV sales were $3.14 billion last year, up double from 2006. It is believed that the HIV drug market could reach as much as $11 billion in 2015.
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comments 1 - 4 (of 4 total)
Ivan, , 2008-02-26 17:31:22
Chris Rock said this years ago, there ain't no money in the cure..... they'll keep finding better ways to maintain us and keep us around to ensure long term guaranteed profits...
dell, Denver, 2008-02-26 14:09:08
In 1999, during his performance, Chris Rock said it succinctly, "...the money's in the medicine, not the cure...ain't nothing been cured since Polio!!!..."
Would any person really expect these companies to put themselves out of business by finding a cure?? Assuming such is really naive.
samuel_999, , 2008-02-26 09:14:06
with such profits what is their motivation to find a cure? why should we trust them?
John, , 2008-02-26 00:05:05
ITS KINDA FUNNY IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHY WOULD ANY OF THESE COMPANIES WANT TO FIND A CURE OR VACCINE FOR HIV IF THEY ARE MAKING RECORD PROFITS. SCARY ISNT IT?????
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 recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
