Generic Antiretrovirals and HIV Care in the United States
Authors: Jennifer Cohn
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters21 May 2013Generic Antiretrovirals and HIV Care in the United StatesJennifer Cohn, MD, MPHJennifer Cohn, MD, MPHFrom Médecins Sans Frontières, Geneva, Switzerland.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-10-201305210-00017 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In his recent editorial, Sherer (1) argues that generic antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) may result in decreased efficacy for persons living with HIV in the United States and calls for large-scale clinical trials comparing branded with generic ARTs. This editorial dangerously conflates the efficacy of generic medicines themselves with the effects of patent barriers that obstruct production of ideal generic regimens.The author's comments endanger the considerable benefits of generics and risk destroying patient trust in the concept of these agents. For example, because of patent barriers, individual components of the fixed-dose combination, branded medicine Atripla (Gilead Sciences ...References1. Sherer R. Generic antiretrovirals and the uncertain future of HIV care in the United States [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158:133-4. [PMID: 23318314] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Bangsberg DR, Ragland K, Monk A, Deeks SG. A single tablet regimen is associated with higher adherence and viral suppression than multiple tablet regimens in HIV+ homeless and marginally housed people. AIDS. 2010;24:2835-40. [PMID: 21045636] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Thompson MA, Mugavero MJ, Amico KR, Cargill VA, Chang LW, Gross R, et al. Guidelines for improving entry into and retention in care and antiretroviral adherence for persons with HIV: evidence-based recommendations from an International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care panel. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:817-33. [PMID: 22393036] LinkGoogle Scholar4. World Health Organization. Prequalification programme: a United Nations programme managed by WHO. Accessed at http://apps.who.int/prequal/ on 23 April 2010. Google Scholar5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. President's emergency plan for AIDS relief: approved and tentatively approved antiretrovirals in association with the President's emergency plan. Accessed at www.fda.gov/InternationalPrograms/FDABeyondOurBordersForeignOffices/AsiaandAfrica/ucm119231.htm on 24 April 2010. Google Scholar6. Médecins Sans Frontières. Untangling the web of antiretroviral prices. 15th edition. July 2012. Accessed at www.msfaccess.org/content/untangling-web-antiretroviral-price-reductions-15th-edition on 22 January 2013. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Jennifer Cohn, MD, MPHAffiliations: From Médecins Sans Frontières, Geneva, Switzerland.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoGeneric Antiretrovirals and the Uncertain Future of HIV Care in the United States Renslow Sherer Generic Antiretrovirals and HIV Care in the United States Renslow Sherer Metrics 21 May 2013Volume 158, Issue 10Page: 777KeywordsAntiretroviral therapyAntiretroviralsClinical trialsConflicts of interestDrug safetyDrugsFood and Drug AdministrationGlobal healthHIV ePublished: 21 May 2013 Issue Published: 21 May 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...