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MSF pressures Abbott on key ARV

    JOHANNESBURG

    US drug giant Abbott Laboratories was on Thursday accused of withholding new heat-resistant tablet versions of its anti-AIDS drug Kaletra in developing countries.

    International medical NGO, Medecins San Frontieres (MSF), said current refrigerated liquid versions of the drug being used in resource-limited settings, was creating treatments hurdles.

    MSF president Rowan Gillies said in a statement: "... where refrigerators are a luxury, [Kaletra] is urgently needed by patients switching to second-line AIDS treatment. How can Abbott continue to drag its feet in filing for registration in most African countries?"

    Kaletra is a key second-line treatment that is used after HIV-positive people naturally develop resistance to first-line combinations.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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