December 8, 2015
Noted AIDS Activists Call Out Makers of Truvada For Profiteering
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A group of noted AIDS activists issued a statement calling out pharmaceutical giant Gilead over price gouging. The group, which included Peter Staley and Larry Kramer, slammed the makers of PrEP drug Truvada and called for the profiteering to end.
"A little AIDS history was made last night -- a uniting of science and anger to get our juices flowing again for the fight ahead," wrote Staley on social media. "It felt like old times, with voices raised, gossip shared, wine poured, and love filling the room...."
A statement published on Staley's Facebook page reads:
We - AIDS activists, new and old, aged 24 to 80 - have just broken bread in the same apartment where GMHC was formed, coming together for a lively discussion on how to reduce HIV infections among gay men and trans women. Although we may not see eye-to-eye on every issue we debated tonight, we all agree that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at protecting a person from HIV infection. While PrEP isn't for everyone, any individual who thinks they are at risk of getting HIV should have easy access to it, without judgment.
We are fed up with Gilead's abusive pricing of its near monopolies in drugs that treat and prevent HIV. Truvada as PrEP was not their idea, and came to market based on research they didn't pay for. Gilead's PrEP profiteering must end. Full access to lifesaving drugs has been a hallmark of our movement, and we will join with AIDS activists across America and around the world to double-down on this push for health equity.
PrEP, along with condoms, TasP (Treatment as Prevention), and better access to healthcare, are now essential public health tools in lowering HIV infections among gay men and trans women. We must use every tool necessary to help them - and to help all those at risk - stop this virus, once and for all.
ACT UP, Fight Back, Fight AIDS.
Larry Kramer
Jim Eigo
Matt Ebert
James Krellenstein
Peter Staley
