Annan Discusses AIDS Drug Discounts with Seven Major Drug Companies

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday in New York City met with "top officials" from seven major drug companies in his continuing effort to gain price reductions for drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to a U.N. spokesperson, Annan discussed lowering drug costs, improving access to HIV/AIDS medications, expanding treatment capabilities and involving private companies in the fight against AIDS. Representatives of Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Pfizer and Roche Holding attended the meeting. The gathering was a follow-up to an April meeting during which Annan brokered an agreement from six drug companies to cut HIV/AIDS medication prices to developing countries (Wall Street Journal, 10/5).