Roche Recalls AIDS Drug Viracept

Back in June, pharmaceutical giant Roche announced a widespread recall of its AIDS drug Viracept, stating that some batches of the medicine may contain a potentially harmful chemical. The thing is, the drug is used widely in developing countries, leaving many without another treatment option.

Reports today’s New York Times,

The scope of Roche’s recall is extraordinary, if not unprecedented, in the battle against the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS, global health officials say. Dr. Lembit Rago, an official at the World Health Organization, said tens of thousands of people take Viracept worldwide, many of them poor people with H.I.V. in developing countries. The recall has left those patients with the painful choice of discontinuing a lifesaving medicine, or using a drug that might contain a dangerous contaminant.

Has Roche fulfilled its obligation by issuing the recall, or are they responsible for providing an alternative for affected patients who can’t afford other medications? What do you think?

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King