AIDS Drug Funding Threatened, Marilyn’s Chest Goes for $45,000 « Gay

For several states, the funding is simply not there to meet the need of thousands of people requiring protease inhibitors to fight their illness. Eleven states have capped enrollment in the government program, even dropping members from their rolls, without providing a waiting list for those in need.

“It implies you’re actually waiting on something,” said DeAnn Gruber, the interim director of Louisiana’s HIV/AIDS program. “We don’t want to give anyone false hope.”

While drug companies are working to lower prices and get medications to people through company-based drug assistance program, the wait is still long and their futures uncertain.

In better funding news, Japan recently designated $10 million to support AIDS research and development in the U.S.

Says Seth Berkley, President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative: “Japan has been a leader in the fight against infectious diseases, and has the scientific capacity to help advance research for one of the toughest public health challenges we face today: the control and ultimate elimination of HIV/AIDS.” So, an AIDS-less future may yet still be in sight.

AIDS Drug Funding Threatened, Japan Pledges $10 Million for Vaccine

The recent economic crisis has hit many people very hard, and now added to the list are those who depend on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which supplies medications needed to combat AIDS and HIV to the underprivileged.