DRUGMAKER CUTS PRICE OF HIV DRUG

Merck announced it has reduced the price of its HIV drug Stocrin (efavirenz) in the least developed countries, including many countries in Africa.

The price of the 600 mg formulation of Stocrin has been reduced by 14.5 percent to $0.65 per day, or $237.25 per patient per year, from $0.76 per day, for countries in the low category of the Human Development Index (HDI) and in medium HDI countries with an adult HIV prevalence of 1 percent or greater.

Merck said it is able to lower the price due to improved manufacturing processes. This is the second time the company has cut the price of the drug in less than a year. Last March Merck announced a 20 percent price cut.

As a result of the company's pricing policy, at the end of 2006 roughly 500,000 patients in 76 developing countries were being treated with antiretroviral regimens containing Stocrin, Merck said.