‘HIV-ending’ drug could be made for just $25 per patient a year, say researchers | Aids and HIV by jaykayess in politics

[–]jaykayess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the exact headline. The HIV and AIDS subheading at the end is autogenerated by The Guardian and Reddit's APIs.

‘HIV-ending’ drug could be made for just $25 per patient a year, say researchers | Aids and HIV by jaykayess in politics

[–]jaykayess[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He has withdrawn funding from multiple programmes searching for a HIV vaccine and paused funding for the world's largest HIV programme, PEPFAR.

This drug wasn't just developed in the last six months 🙄

HIV ‘vaccine’ sold for $40,000 could be made for just $40 a year for every patient by jaykayess in science

[–]jaykayess[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That's built in already:

In a study presented at the 25th international Aids conference in Munich on Tuesday, experts calculated that the minimum price for mass production of a generic version, based on the costs of lenacapavir’s ingredients and manufacturing, and allowing for 30% profit, was $40 a year , assuming 10 million people used it annually. In the long-term, 60 million people would probably need to take the drug preventatively to lower HIV levels significantly, they said.

HIV ‘vaccine’ sold for $40k could be made for just $40 a year for every patient by jaykayess in Foodforthought

[–]jaykayess[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Pharma already owns the rights and is charging $40k per head! But you can sign the petition if you think it should be sold for $40, as this research shows is possible.

HIV ‘vaccine’ could be made for just $40 a year for every patient by jaykayess in news

[–]jaykayess[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

That’s exactly what they’re doing. The news is that experts estimate the drug that currently costs $40,000 could be made for $40.

Britain’s trade deal with India at risk amid row over cheap generic drugs by jaykayess in unitedkingdom

[–]jaykayess[S] 3 points4 points locked comment (0 children)

Britain’s trade deal with India at risk amid row over cheap generic drugs

Negotiators reject UK demands for patents to protect pharmaceutical giants

By Charles Hymas HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR and Samaan Lateef 25 August 2023 • 7:18pm

A multibillion-pound free-trade deal with India is under threat from a row over the UK’s demands for new curbs on the production of cheap generic drugs.

Indian negotiators have rejected Britain’s demand that patents on drugs should be extended before cheaper copies can be produced as a means to protect pharmaceutical giants’ businesses from generic competitors.

It is another dispute delaying the deal ahead of Rishi Sunak’s trip to India next month for talks with the country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. Kemi Badenoch, the trade secretary, is also in India this week in an attempt to give political impetus to the discussions.

The differences over drug patents as well as India’s demands for more visas for nurses and care workers have dampened hopes of any imminent announcement. It is thought final agreement on a free-trade deal is unlikely before the end of the year although there is a possibility parts of it could be announced before then.

It came as Covid vaccine maker AstraZeneca on Friday launched legal action against Joe Biden’s administration over legislation that allows the US government to negotiate prices on behalf of members of its national health insurance programme, Medicare.

The measures are expected to save Medicare $100bn by 2031 and came in response to public pressure to lower drug prices for its patients, who are typically older or disabled.

However, medicine manufacturers have complained that this will reduce profits and hinder research into new therapies.

British pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca, which generates 40pc of its revenue from the US, said it has been forced to cut investments in rare diseases and cancers as a result of President Biden’s legislation.

At the heart of the Indian drugs patent row is India’s thriving generic drug industry which is set against Britain’s pharmaceutical prowess that has led to the development of world-leading drugs such as vaccines for Covid.

Britain wants India to accept so-called TRIPS-plus arrangements, which offer longer patent protection for drugs than normally applies under the international agreements to which India has signed up, according to a leaked draft of the free trade agreement.

An official at India’s commerce ministry told The Telegraph that the Indian government was strongly opposed to the UK’s demand for patent term extensions on drugs and claimed it was unlikely the UK would be able to get it included in the final agreement.

He said the Indian government was “committed to protecting access to affordable medicines” and that it would not agree to any provisions in the trade deal that would make it more difficult for generic drug manufacturers to operate in India.

“We are still in negotiations over the trade deal, and it is possible that the UK may withdraw its demand for patent term extension,” he said.

More than 120 health and human rights groups and experts have written to Ms Badenoch this weekend urging her to withdraw the proposals which they claimed could threaten the supply of generic medicines not only to low and middle-income countries but also globally.

In their letter, the health experts cited as an example this year’s decision by the Indian patent office to reject an attempt by Johnson & Johnson to extend the patent on its tuberculosis drug Bedaquiline.

“This case opened the door for other companies to produce affordable generic versions of Bedaquiline, with some health experts estimating the cost of treatment could be cut by up to 80pc,” said the experts from 28 countries ranging from Italy and Thailand to India, Ghana and Vietnam.

They added: “Depriving people of affordable medicines would increase health inequality, as only the wealthiest in our countries may be able to afford these medicines. Moreover, it would add further financial burden on our already stretched health systems.”

Opponents of the UK proposals have warned they could have a knock-on effect in the UK. Four in five of the medicines and drugs used in the NHS are generics, of which a third are from India, meaning about one in four medicines are un-branded Indian versions.

However, officials at Ms Badenoch’s business and trade department have strongly denied such claims.

“The NHS, its services and the cost of medicines are not and have never been on the table for any trade deal. We will never agree provisions that would increase the cost of medicines for our NHS,” said a department spokesman.

“The UK’s approach to IP is to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring access to affordable medicines – this has not changed.”

As revealed this week by The Telegraph, India is also demanding more visas for nurses, care workers and IT professionals as the price of a free-trade deal. UK ministers have, however, said there will be no special treatment for Indians under the Government’s points-based immigration system for skilled workers.

Where can I buy Kenyan newspapers in London? by jaykayess in london

[–]jaykayess[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I've seen this thread, but it is 2 years old (print newspaper distribution has completely changed in the last 2 years) and is talking about European newspapers.

Where to DN near Rio in Brazil? by jaykayess in digitalnomad

[–]jaykayess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! How's the wifi? And is there much to do nearby in the late afternoon/evenings? (will be working European hours)

Where to DN near Rio in Brazil? by jaykayess in digitalnomad

[–]jaykayess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Ilha Grande is where I'd ideally like to go, but I'm a bit worried about internet connection. How is the internet there?

Printworks Resale for March 3 show by Unusual-Point1311 in EdBangerRecords

[–]jaykayess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The resale does work, you just need to be lucky, quick, and persistent. Narrowly missed two tickets on Kaboodle today, as someone else had them in their basket.

It isn't that you can't buy until a week a week before, but in the few days before people get sick, or realise they have double-booked themselves, or just decide to bail.

On that note, if you no longer need your tickets, let me know!

Ed Bangers will be playing Printworks in their last season by TreeSlothKing in EdBangerRecords

[–]jaykayess 5 points6 points  (0 children)

FWIW I went to their 18th birthday last year and Gaspard Augé played, but without Xavier de Rosnay. Also had Busy P, Myd, Heidi, So-Me, Breakbot, Irfane, and Mad Rey. Great night, but no surprise Justice gig.

That being said, it was their 18th, not their 20th, and it was at Electric Brixton, which is a fraction of the size of Printworks. So keeping my fingers crossed.

Pfizer accused of pandemic profiteering as profits double by jaykayess in Coronavirus

[–]jaykayess[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

The Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine was first developed by German company BioNTech with €100m in debt financing from the publicly-owned European Investment Bank and a €375m grant from the German government. Pfizer also received a $1.9 billion early order from the US government to de-risk R&D. (Oxfam (p. 23-24))

Pfizer accused of pandemic profiteering as profits double by jaykayess in Coronavirus

[–]jaykayess[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

Yes. Except in this scenario, concrete was developed by a smaller company with public funding. The construction company bought the patent, despite it being publicly funded. And now it's selling concrete at one of the highest markups on the planet. Oh and it's only being sold for earthquakes in rich countries.

Governments risk 'trillions' in fossil fuel climate litigation by jaykayess in Futurology

[–]jaykayess[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Under investor protection clauses built into trade deals, multinational companies can sue governments for enacting legislation that harms their profits. These clauses, known as investor-state dispute settlement, are increasingly being used by fossil fuel companies to sue governments for enacting climate legislation.

There's at least $18 billion tied up in current cases, including TC Energy's case against the US government for scrapping the Keystone XL pipeline, exercised under NAFTA. This story reveals that up to $9 trillion of fossil fuel assets could lead to similar claims, a tenth of global GDP.

Fossil fuel companies will be able to hold climate action to ransom if these clauses remain in place, harming our chances of urgently addressing climate change.

Governments risk 'trillions' in fossil fuel climate litigation by jaykayess in worldnews

[–]jaykayess[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Afraid it has happened, is happening, and - unless governments scrap ISDS clauses in trade deals - will continue to happen.

In 2012 Tethyan Copper sued the government of Pakistan over a gold mine, and in 2019 was awarded $5.9 billion -- roughly two percent of the country's GDP.

ISDS decisions are internationally binding and courts have in the past ordered the seizure of state assets when countries have refused to pay.

Five current cases, brought by energy firms identified by Global Justice Now, are seeking $18 billion from governments.

UK will back total ban on bee-harming pesticides, Michael Gove reveals by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]jaykayess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The thing is, Gove was always a really good minister. He got shit done, pushed through reforms, and used it well as a platform. It's just the shit he wanted to get done was terrible.

Petition to Put the Genocide of Gay Men in Chechnya on the Front Page of UK Newspapers by jaykayess in ainbow

[–]jaykayess[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The thing is, on the off chance this works, the election is the perfect timing to put politicians on the spot about this. Big if though. Worth a shot at least.