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Monday, July 17, 2006
The one a day AIDS pill recently approved in the US may be too expensive for the Guyanese health authorities to adopt. According to Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Guyana may eventually move in the direction of making available the one-a-day AIDS pill Atripla that combines three different medicines in one tablet, but at present it would be too costly. According to reports out of the US the new drug, Atripla, contains the drugs Sustiva, Viread and Emtriva, which offers patients a more suitable alternative to the current multiple drug cocktails. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reportedly approved a version of Atripla for sale to developing countries. This version of the pill will be produced in a white colour, instead of the salmon colour of those for wealthier markets. The Minister of Health has stated that when the cost goes down for the drug Guyana will eventually start using it. Ramsanny is also confident that Guyana can make the drug as well as the US does once the raw material is made available. Atripla is currently being sold in the US at US$1,000 for a month's dosage.
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