Bargain basement

Five of the world’s biggest drugs companies have agreed to slash the price of
their anti-HIV drugs in developing countries by 85 per cent following sustained
pressure from health agencies, Third World governments and patient groups
(New Scientist, 29 April, p 14).
One of the companies, Glaxo Wellcome, is
cutting the price of triple drug therapy from $16 to $2 a day. But
pressure groups have warned that even at these prices, poverty and a lack of
health infrastructure in poor countries will mean the benefits are limited.