Trump Administration Sues Gilead, Maker of HIV-Prevention Drugs: Bravo, Mr. President!
The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company that sells HIV-prevention drugs that can cost patients up to $20,000 a year, accusing the company of earning billions from research funded by taxpayers without paying back taxpayers.
The government said the company infringed upon patents owned by the Department of Health and Human Services and had refused attempts by the department to license its patents and collect royalties. The company sells two drugs, Truvada and Descovy, that can be taken once daily to prevent HIV infection, a strategy called preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
Wider access to PrEP is central to the government’s goal, announced in February, to reduce new HIV infections by 75% over five years, and to “end the HIV epidemic in America” by 2030. Critics have said the drug’s lofty price tag has limited its accessibility to high-risk people with low incomes, thwarting the government’s efforts.
“Gilead must respect the U.S. patent system, the groundbreaking work by CDC researchers, and the substantial taxpayer contributions to the development of these drugs,” Alex M. Azar II, the secretary of health and human services, said in a statement, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The complaint filed today seeks to ensure that they do.”
In May, Gilead said it would donate enough medication to supply 200,000 patients with the drug for up to 11 years. But about 1 million Americans are estimated to be at risk for infection, and only about 270,000 people take the pills.
Gilead makes more than $3 billion a year on Truvada.
The lawsuit was cheered by some activists. PReP4All, a group that has pushed for wider access for the drugs, called it “a necessary first step to ensure access to effective HIV prevention for everyone who needs it.”
“For nearly a decade, Gilead’s price gouging on PrEP has prevented hundreds of thousands of Americans from accessing this life saving medication, despite it being a taxpayer-funded invention,” the group said in a statement. “If HHS is truly invested in ending the HIV epidemic, it will use these patents as leverage to ensure that everyone who needs PrEP can get it.”
rumitoid wrote:
The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company that sells HIV-prevention drugs that can cost patients up to $20,000 a year, accusing the company of earning billions from research funded by taxpayers without paying back taxpayers.
The government said the company infringed upon patents owned by the Department of Health and Human Services and had refused attempts by the department to license its patents and collect royalties. The company sells two drugs, Truvada and Descovy, that can be taken once daily to prevent HIV infection, a strategy called preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
Wider access to PrEP is central to the government’s goal, announced in February, to reduce new HIV infections by 75% over five years, and to “end the HIV epidemic in America” by 2030. Critics have said the drug’s lofty price tag has limited its accessibility to high-risk people with low incomes, thwarting the government’s efforts.
“Gilead must respect the U.S. patent system, the groundbreaking work by CDC researchers, and the substantial taxpayer contributions to the development of these drugs,” Alex M. Azar II, the secretary of health and human services, said in a statement, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The complaint filed today seeks to ensure that they do.”
In May, Gilead said it would donate enough medication to supply 200,000 patients with the drug for up to 11 years. But about 1 million Americans are estimated to be at risk for infection, and only about 270,000 people take the pills.
Gilead makes more than $3 billion a year on Truvada.
The lawsuit was cheered by some activists. PReP4All, a group that has pushed for wider access for the drugs, called it “a necessary first step to ensure access to effective HIV prevention for everyone who needs it.”
“For nearly a decade, Gilead’s price gouging on PrEP has prevented hundreds of thousands of Americans from accessing this life saving medication, despite it being a taxpayer-funded invention,” the group said in a statement. “If HHS is truly invested in ending the HIV epidemic, it will use these patents as leverage to ensure that everyone who needs PrEP can get it.”
The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Gilead ... (
show quote)
It might be better and cheaper to outlaw homosexuality again and consider it a mental illness. HIV has now spread to the general population along with many STDs. Another deadly gift from the left.
Peewee wrote:
It might be better and cheaper to outlaw homosexuality again and consider it a mental illness. HIV has now spread to the general population along with many STDs. Another deadly gift from the left.
Think drugs and promiscuity are bigger causes of AIDS and other STDs....
Peewee wrote:
It might be better and cheaper to outlaw homosexuality again and consider it a mental illness. HIV has now spread to the general population along with many STDs. Another deadly gift from the left.
Gift from the left? Are you retarded?
rumitoid wrote:
The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company that sells HIV-prevention drugs that can cost patients up to $20,000 a year, accusing the company of earning billions from research funded by taxpayers without paying back taxpayers.
The government said the company infringed upon patents owned by the Department of Health and Human Services and had refused attempts by the department to license its patents and collect royalties. The company sells two drugs, Truvada and Descovy, that can be taken once daily to prevent HIV infection, a strategy called preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
Wider access to PrEP is central to the government’s goal, announced in February, to reduce new HIV infections by 75% over five years, and to “end the HIV epidemic in America” by 2030. Critics have said the drug’s lofty price tag has limited its accessibility to high-risk people with low incomes, thwarting the government’s efforts.
“Gilead must respect the U.S. patent system, the groundbreaking work by CDC researchers, and the substantial taxpayer contributions to the development of these drugs,” Alex M. Azar II, the secretary of health and human services, said in a statement, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The complaint filed today seeks to ensure that they do.”
In May, Gilead said it would donate enough medication to supply 200,000 patients with the drug for up to 11 years. But about 1 million Americans are estimated to be at risk for infection, and only about 270,000 people take the pills.
Gilead makes more than $3 billion a year on Truvada.
The lawsuit was cheered by some activists. PReP4All, a group that has pushed for wider access for the drugs, called it “a necessary first step to ensure access to effective HIV prevention for everyone who needs it.”
“For nearly a decade, Gilead’s price gouging on PrEP has prevented hundreds of thousands of Americans from accessing this life saving medication, despite it being a taxpayer-funded invention,” the group said in a statement. “If HHS is truly invested in ending the HIV epidemic, it will use these patents as leverage to ensure that everyone who needs PrEP can get it.”
The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Gilead ... (
show quote)
Note to Democrats. Even the Trump administration does some things right. Not much, but some.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.