Charity threatens to ban GSK's marketing of Aids drugs

LONDON - US charity Aids Healthcare Foundation has threatened to stop UK pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline from marketing its Aids medication in protest at the price at which it sells the drugs in the US.

Aids Healthcare Foundation claims that although Glaxo sells Aids medicines in the developing world at reduced prices, it charges twice as much as its competitors for Aids drugs in the US. It said it would stop the drugs giant marketing its products on its outpatients websites.

The company is reported to have said that while it acknowledges some generic Aids drugs sell in the developing world for half the price of its comparable products, it has reduced its prices by as much as 90%. It also said it does not make money on Aids medication it sells to the developing world.

A spokeswoman for GSK said "You have to cover your basic costs of manufacturing. You can't just give it away for the long term. You have to ensure there's going to be a stable supply."

She added that she does not expect the charity's actions to make an impact on sales.

Aids Healthcare Foundation's websites are one of the main channels through which pharmaceuticals companies can inform doctors in the US about their Aids products.

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