CONTACT: Kate Krauss, (215) 731-1844

AIDS activists, including ACT UP/Philadelphia, are working to save an amendment to a federal trade bill called the "African Growth and Opportunity Act." They oppose the bill. However, many AIDS advocates strongly support an amendment to the bill that precludes US trade sanctions against African countries that manufacture generic, affordable versions of expensive drugs. According to Senate Finance Committee staff, Senator Feinstein's amendment is under fierce attack by pharmaceutical industry lobbyists who want to retain monopoly status on the drugs.

Senator Feinstein's language removes a roadblock for people with AIDS in developing countries. Twenty three million people are infected with AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Twelve million people have already died. Commented ACT UP's Paul Davis, "If poor countries can manufacture their own AIDS drugs, three million people with AIDS in South Africa alone will have their lives saved. What is that worth?" Added ACT UP member Bill Horne, "Africa accounts for 1.5% of global pharmaceutical sales. Congressional conservatives and the drug company interests they are beholden to are prepared to sacrifice literally millions of lives for a tiny sliver of profit."

The amendment fight pits a large group of US AIDS organizations against PhRMA, the US drug company lobby, which some have dubbed "the NRA of drugs." PhRMA is the single biggest source of campaign contributions in the United States. US business analysts report that the US/European pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable industry in the world, with 20% annual profits typical of the largest companies. "PhRMA prefers pricing polices where life-saving medications are so expensive that only wealthy nations like the US, Canada, & Western Europe can afford medicine. The rest of the world is left for dead," said Paul Davis. AIDS activists advocate a moderate, tiered price structure that puts medicine in the hands of poor people as well as lucrative markets like the US.

ACT UP opposes "The African Growth and Opportunity Act," but believes that it may be signed into law by the President. "The African Growth and Opportunity Act" imposes structural adjustment requirements on sub-Saharan nations in exchange for a limited trade benefit (primarily to benefit wealthy African manufacturing interests). These structural adjustment programs mean that the economies of debtor nations are restructured to pay off the loans. Health and education spending is gutted in poor countries in order to pay back debt on loans from wealthy nations and lending institutions such as the World Bank.

IF THE BILL PASSES THROUGH THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, ACT UP DEMANDS THAT THE FEINSTEIN AMENDMENT IS RETAINED IN AN UNCOMPROMISED FORM.

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