Diflucan News

Pfizer to Offer Diflucan Antifungal Medicine at No Charge To HIV/AIDS Patients in 50 Least Developed Countries Around the World
PR Newswire
June 6, 2001

Pfizer Inc said today that it will offer Diflucan(R) antifungal medicine at no charge to HIV/AIDS patients in 50 least-developed countries as identified by the United Nations where HIV/AIDS is most prevalent.

The Diflucan Partnership was developed in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Health Organization and expands upon the existing South African Diflucan Partnership Program, a collaboration between Pfizer and the South African Ministry of Health.

"Together with our partners at the UN and the WHO, we are moving quickly to expand The Diflucan Partnership and reach as many HIV/AIDS patients as possible in the 50 countries targeted by the UN," said Dr. Henry McKinnell, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer. "The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a tragedy of unprecedented magnitude. We will support this initiative for as long as it is needed, and we will continue to work with the UN, the WHO and other international organizations to ensure public/private partnerships like the Diflucan program can be most effective."

Dr. McKinnell also noted that he reviewed Pfizer's new initiative with the White House and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and received their support.

Diflucan began reaching patients earlier this spring through the South African partnership program. To date, 185 institutions in South Africa have begun to distribute medicine through the program. Discussions about the expanded partnership programs have now begun with five additional countries - Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland.

Commenting on the program, the South African Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Sheila Violet Makate Sisulu, said, "What makes this offer so special is the appreciation that the planning required for the implementation of this initiative must be done in conjunction with governments in order to meet the priorities identified."

In the 50 least developed countries with an HIV prevalence of greater than one percent, roughly 12 million people are reported to be infected with HIV/AIDS. While Diflucan is not a treatment for HIV/AIDS, it has proven highly effective in treating two opportunistic infections, cryptococcal meningitis and esophageal candidiasis, that afflict large numbers of people with AIDS.

Pfizer's support has no dollar or time limits. The company will work closely with governments, non-governmental organizations, the UN and the WHO to ensure Diflucan reaches all eligible patients who cannot afford treatment. The partnership will offer medically responsible treatment programs, which will include education of patients and healthcare providers, appropriate dispensing of medicines, and ongoing monitoring and support from partner governments. In order to expedite the delivery of Diflucan, Pfizer will explore existing distribution networks in the targeted countries and ship Diflucan through those networks with the approval of the appropriate government and medical authorities.

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the brain caused by the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans; it occurs in approximately one in 10 AIDS patients in the late stages of the disease. Of those suffering from untreated meningitis, the mortality rate is more than 90 percent.

Esophageal candidiasis is a debilitating fungal infection of the esophagus caused by Candida albicans; it is reported in 20 to 40 percent of all patients with HIV/AIDS. While mortality rates are considerably lower for patients suffering from infection of the esophagus, the condition frequently prevents patients from swallowing food and leads to overall physical deterioration.

In addition to the South African Ambassador to the United States and New York AIDS Coalition Executive Director Joey B. Pressley, the following representatives participated in today's announcement - Republic of Namibia Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Martin Andjaba; Republic of Malawi Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Yusuf McDadlly Juwayeyi; Botswanan Minister of Lands and Housing, H.E. Jacob Nkate; Kingdom of Lesotho Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Percy Metsing Mangoaela; Botswana Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Leutlwetse Mmualefe; and United States Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. James Cunningham.