GSK under pressure to lower price of HIV drug in Russia

The Coalition for Preparedness for Treatment, a public association in Russia which protects the interests of local patients, has sent an official  request to the UK’s GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK), asking the drugmaker to lower the price for its dolutegravir anti-HIV drug, which is sold under Tivikai brand name in the local market (Tivicay elsewhere), according  to recent statements by representatives of the Association, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

At present dolutegravir remains one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of HIV in Russia, while the demand for this drug among the local patients is steadily growing.  In fact, last fall GSK already reduced prices for the drug by almost 27%. However, that reduction is considered by Coalition officials as insufficient.

In its letter sent to GSK, the Association said the reduction of prices for the same drug in Brazil three years ago was equivalent to almost 70%. The Coalition believes that the Russian price of the drug should be comparable to that at which it sold in the Brazil market as both countries are positioned as emerging nations and are members of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).