Kaytee Riek's blog

Today, I realized something. Well, maybe not realized something so much as had something reaffirmed. Bad guys are afraid of activists. We make them uncomfortable. We make them own up for failed policies. It’s no wonder that, over the past few days, many bad guys have refused to show up to sessions. They know we’re waiting to put them on the spot.

It started with Abbott. In 2004, activists targeted Abbott for high drug prices and a refusal to allow generic production of Kaletra. We targeted their booth, and by the time we were done, they knew how we felt about them. Then, in 2006, Abbott paid for space at the AIDS Conference, but never built a booth. This year, they didn’t even bother to rent space! Abbott, which makes the blockbuster AIDS drug Kaletra, isn’t in the Exhibition Hall pushing their fancy pens and free coffee on passersby this year. My guess – they’re afraid of the activists.  read more »

You know the AIDS Conference has started when you hear the chants of activists resonate through the halls as they exit a conference room. So I'm happy to say - the AIDS Conference has officially started!

Activists have always played an important (and vocal) role at AIDS Conferences. This year is no exception. Today, more than a dozen activists, organized by ACT UP Paris, took the stage at a Bristol-Myers Squibb Symposium entitled "Rethinking Initiation of HAART" to call attention to the fact that BMS is "rethinking" production of a key HIV medication for children.

Accoring to TRT-5, the European AIDS Treatment Group and Sidaction, BMS stated in March 2008 that the company would stop the distribution of the 100mg pediatric capsule formulation of Sustiva/Stocrin (efavirez). Several countries are already experiencing stock-outs.

This medication, at the 100mg dosage level, works well in children, and is especially imporant considering that there are very few effective medications for children. Children who previously were taking 100mg efavirenz will have to change up their regimens, or will have to take more or larger pills (both of which are difficult for children in particular).  read more »