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MEMBER PROFILES

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Company Overview

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life. Bristol-Myers Squibb is the world's number one provider of cancer therapies, and a leader in the discovery and development of medicines to treat cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The company is also a leader in providing treatments for infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and for disorders of the central nervous system. The company's largest markets are in the U.S., France, Japan, Germany, Italy, and Canada.

HIV/AIDS Profile

Bristol-Myers Squibb launched its "Secure the Future" initiative in May 1999, a commitment to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in five southern African countries. In 2001, the Company committed additional funding through the initiative for four West African countries. The "Secure the Future" initiative provides grants to support medical research focusing on women and children and provides hard-hit areas with resources to improve community education and patient support. Bristol-Myers Squibb also participates in the UN/Industry Accelerating Access Initiative through the offer of its HIV/AIDS drugs at below cost to all sub-Saharan African countries.

» View Secure the Future Manual: Seven Steps to Involve the Community in HIV/AIDS Treatment Support Programs

SECURE THE FUTURETM is a five-year, $100 million commitment by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company -- in partnership with the African nations of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland -- to find sustainable and relevant solutions for the management of HIV/AIDS in women and children, and provide resources to improve community education and patient support.

On March 14, 2001, Bristol-Myers Squibb pledged an additional $15 million for four countries in western Africa: Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso.

SECURE THE FUTURE in western Africa will be developed in partnership with these countries, leveraging promising programs funded in southern Africa and helping the four countries to find customized, innovative and sustainable solutions. This effort raises the total SECURE THE FUTURE commitment to $115 million. The first Technical Advisory Committee meeting -- which brought together country representatives and international experts to define governance structure, program elements and eligibility criteria -- was held in Dakar, Senegal, on June 16, 2001

Highlights of Company's Four-Point Program to Fight HIV/AIDS In Africa:

  • DRUGS BELOW COST -- The company will now make its two AIDS medicines, Videx® (didanosine) and Zerit® (stavudine), available in African countries at even lower prices -- below cost -- under its existing ACCESS partnership program with international agencies, including UNAIDS, World Health Organization, World Bank, UNICEF and U.N. Population Fund.
  • TRANSPARENT PRICING -- The prices of products offered under the ACCESS program will be fully public. Under this program, the company's medicines to treat HIV/AIDS -- the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors Videx and Zerit -- will be available in every country in Africa that wishes to participate at a price of one dollar per day -- 15 cents per day for Zerit and 85 cents per day for Videx. These prices are below cost.
  • SECURE THE FUTURETM -- The company has expanded its philanthropic SECURE THE FUTURE program by pledging an additional $15 million, raising the total level of commitment to $115 million. This will allow it to continue developing innovative ways to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS among women and children and to help communities deal with the crisis. This initiative works with African governments and communities to bring local solutions to the epidemic.
  • EMERGENCY PATENT RELIEF -- The company will ensure that its patents do not prevent inexpensive HIV/AIDS therapy in Africa. The patent for Zerit, rights to which are owned by Yale University and Bristol-Myers Squibb, will be made available at no cost to treat AIDS in South Africa under an agreement the company has recently concluded with Yale. The company has no other patent rights in Africa which it will allow to prevent AIDS therapy there.