Demand that Abbott lower their price on Norvir!

Urge the federal government to open up production of the critical HIV/AIDS drug Norvir!!

Norvir was developed by Abbott Laboratories with a muilti-million dollar taxpayer funded grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Recently Abbott hiked the price of Norvir from about $1,600 a year to over $7,800. Because the development of Norvir was federally funded a “March-In” provision exists, allowing the government to intervene if this subsidy is exploited by selling drugs at astronomical prices preventing reasonable public access. NIH hosts a public meeting on this issue today. Take action now!!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Drop Norvir's Price Now!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to open up the production of the critical HIV/AIDS drug Norvir. As you know, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) hosted a public meeting on the potential for invoking the "March-In" provision of the Bayh-Dole Act to open competition on the HIV/AIDS drug Ritonavir, more commonly known as Norvir. As a concerned taxpayer, I hope you will see fit to use this provision to protect access to Norvir by granting licenses for the patents needed for its manufacture.

Before December 2003, the price of Norvir in the U.S. was far higher than in Canada or any Western European country. Two days before Christmas 2003, Abbott increased the price by 400%. The price of the most common dose rose from under $1,600 to over $7,800 a year, while remaining under $720 in Canada and many countries in Western Europe.

Abbott Laboratories made over $1 billion in sales by 2001, far eclipsing its research and development investment in the drug. The FDA expedited the approval process to just 70 days, allowing Norvir to be sold in the U.S. in a record time after its first patents were filed.

A complaint has been filed with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that Abbott violated federal antitrust laws by bundling Norvir with another AIDS drug in a single pill, called Kaletra, and insulating the price of the combination pill from the price increase. In effect, this practice has allowed Abbott to raise the price of its competitors' products that compete with Kaletra, in violation of federal case law.

In every instance, Abbott has pursued greater profits at the expense of people?s lives. In my opinion, this behavior more than qualifies as just cause for exercising "March-In" rights that can increase competitiveness and ensure fair pricing.

I trust you will take the steps necessary to correct this grave injustice.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 25, 2004

Background Information

Norvir was developed by Abbott Laboratories with a multi-million dollar taxpayer funded grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In December 2003, Abbott raised the price of Norvir (already higher than anywhere else in the world) from under $1,600 to over $7,800 a year—4 times its original cost.

Abbott’s blatant greed has put Norvir out of reach for many who are in critical need of this unique drug. Norvir is especially important for HIV/AIDS patients in need of a last-resort “salvage therapy” because their virus has become resistant to other medicines.

Because Norvir was developed with federal money, a ‘March-In’ provision exists that allows the government to intervene if this subsidy is exploited by selling drugs at astronomical prices that prevent reasonable public access. Today the NIH hosts a public meeting on this critical issue.

Tell Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and National Institute of Health Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni to use the “March-In” provision of the Bayh-Dole Act and relax the patent on Norvir to ensure fair pricing and increase access to this essential drug.