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AHF: Victory! Boehringer Ingelheim to Increase AIDS Drug Program Rebates

"Boehringer Ingelheim's action earlier today is a watershed moment in the AIDS drug crisis. We commend BI executives for their realism and leadership for being among the first to address this crisis by voluntarily increasing their drug rebates for ADAP," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "BI's action should also serve as a halcyon call to others-notably BMS, Gilead, Johnson & Johnson and Merck-to do more to address the ADAP crisis by increasing their own rebates. AHF will be working hard to motivate those companies to follow BI's lead."

At its annual general meeting earlier this year, Abbott Laboratories' CEO Miles D. White announced that Abbott would be increasing its rebate for ADAP by eight percent, however, AHF officials have been unable to later confirm Abbott's action. AHF believes that the Abbott rebate increase came as a result of contract expiration and re-negotiation. The BI increase appears to be a voluntary effort of the company to alleviate the ADAP crisis, which makes it an even more groundbreaking move.

"We urge other AIDS groups to join us in appealing to all AIDS drug makers to follow the path to improved ADAP access blazed in 2011 by Abbott and BI with their increased rebates," added AHF's Weinstein.

Over the past several years, AHF has mounted ongoing drug pricing advocacy efforts targeting several of the major drug companies. This advocacy included posting "Boehringer Ingelheim: Do the Right Thing on AIDS" billboards surrounding BI's corporate offices in Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany. The billboards include the image of a red ribbon and the words: "Boehringer Ingelheim Mach das Richtige," as well as the website address: www.2boehringer.org. The website provides the public with further information about the campaign, as well as the opportunity to send an e-letter to Ms. Christina Boehringer, Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee. The website and letter are accessible in both German and English.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and services to more than 174,000 individuals in 27 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific region and Eastern Europe. www.aidshealth.org

AHF Assoc. Dir. of Communications
Lori Yeghiayan
Office: +1-323-308-1834
Cell: +1-323-377-4312
loriy@aidshealth.org
or
AHF Communications Director
Ged Kenslea
Office: +1-323-308-1833
Cell: +1-323-791-5526
gedk@aidshealth.org