Report Examines PEPFAR Drug Procurement

"Divine Intervention," Center for Public Integrity: The latest addition to the center's "Divine Intervention" project -- a year-long investigation into the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- says that PEPFAR has been "slow" in allowing the procurement of generic antiretroviral drugs for its programs. According to the report, PEPFAR estimates indicate about 5% of its antiretroviral budget in 2004 and 2005 was allocated for generic drugs. PEPFAR's policies only allow procurement of antiretrovirals approved by FDA or given tentative approval through an expedited review process, according to a CPI release. The report found that almost all antiretrovirals provided under PEPFAR in 2004 were brand-name drugs. FDA by October 2006 had approved 26 generic antiretrovials for inclusion in PEPFAR, according to an FDA spokesperson (CPI release, 12/13).

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