AFC Organizes Abbott Meeting

on Controversial Price Increase



A group from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago—including people
living
with HIV/AIDS and local service providers—recently met with an
Abbott
Laboratories official to discuss the company's recent decision to
drastically increase the price of Norvir, an important anti-HIV
medication. Abbott, an Illinois-based company, increased the
wholesale price of its protease inhibitor Norvir (ritonavir) in
December 2003, causing intense public scrutiny and opposition,
especially by patients and physicians.



During the two-hour meeting, AFC and representatives from the Chicago
Department of Public Health, the CORE Center, and the Test Positive
Aware Network expressed concerns about the impact of the decision on
AIDS-related systems of care and urged Abbott to roll back
Norvir's
price. A public letter summarizing the meeting is posted online at
www.aidschicago.org/advocacy/test_2_6_04.php.



Responding to some of the issues raised by AFC and other advocates
nationwide, Abbott announced yesterday plans to permanently freeze
the cost of Norvir for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs nationwide:
www.abbott.com/hiv/pdf/norvir_reprice.pdf. While laudable, this
action does not address other key concerns and appears unlikely to
mute mounting criticism.



As we go to press, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago has learned that
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan will launch an investigation
into Abbott's pricing practices regarding Norvir. For more
information go to: www.ag.state.il.us/newsroom/news.htm.



For more information on the re-pricing issue, visit the AIDS
Treatment Activist Coalition online at www.atac-
usa.org/Abbottpricehike.html.