Bill Clinton's Next Fight: Malaria

NEW YORK — Former President Clinton's foundation has signed pricing agreements with several suppliers involved in making a malaria-fighting drug in an effort to stabilize the medication's fluctuating costs and ensure more dependable availability.

The former president in 2002 established an HIV/AIDS initiative that sought to negotiate lower prices for antiretroviral treatments, and he since has expanded his focus to include malaria treatments such as artemisinin-based combination therapies, or ACTs.

Artemisinin is an extract of the plant known as wormwood or sagewort. One of the factors making the price of artemisinin so volatile _ fluctuating from $155 to $1,100 per kilogram in recent years _ has been a wildly erratic cycle of shortage and excess of the extract, Clinton said Thursday at a news conference.

"Today the supply as well as the demand have led to these dramatic fluctuations in prices," Clinton said, holding up a green clipping of the plant. "Our goal, among other things, is to make sure that this little plant is available in sufficient supply, and that over time we can rationalize the prices."

The drug makers and the United Nations Special Envoy on Malaria joined Clinton for the announcement at his foundation's Manhattan headquarters.

Clinton said he has negotiated with six suppliers involved in producing ACTs that have agreed to certain price ceilings that the foundation says will help keep prices constant and not so dependent on the fluctuating cycles.

The agreements are with two suppliers at three levels of the supply chain _ raw material, processing and final formulation _ and the foundation hopes to add more suppliers.

"There's no question that we're talking about hundreds of thousands of lives being saved by making these drugs affordable," said malaria expert Dr. Christopher Plowe, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who is not affiliated with the groups involved in the agreement.

About 500 million people are sickened each year by malaria, and more than 1 million die from the infectious disease, which is spread by mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea and shortness of breath.

Besides benefiting from a more stable market, the suppliers that join the Clinton effort also get business and marketing assistance from the foundation.

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On the Net:

http://www.clintonfoundation.org

Comments

[BLUEinReddeststate]

The 2 faces of Bill. About a year and a half ago my husband and I were listening to in –depth interview with Bill Clinton. We commented on how much the leadership in this country missed his intelligence. We thought what a great 2 for 1 bargain we would get with Hillary and Bill. Then ugly Bill #2 showed up during the primary. Bill #2 is self absorbed and egotistical, the same one that put his personal pleasures above his duties to his country and his wife and daughter.
An Obama/H Clinton team would be a great combination for getting this country back on track. We can’t afford any distractions, we can’t take a chance the wrong Bill will show up and we would get McCain. Think this can’t happen, then why isn’t Hillary the presumptive nominee.

There is no other choice to fix the mess OBAMA ‘08

[rokn81]

how about "this big fight "????? my god- i am so disappointed in both clintons.i supported both of them,and now i am passionately supporting barack. why are not both of them out on the campaign-trail-working HARD ...to help elect our party's nominee ??? i know why-sadly- they only really care about theie own agenda.
the fact that they seem to have so many quasi-racist supporters -who they quietly encouraged during the primaries- still out there needing encouragement to back a fellow-democrat,and yet they fiddle.....
shame !
i am a ny voter,and i'm telling you- they will have to move to kentucky,and run as republicrats-like joe traitor-leiberman -to ever get elected again- UNLESS they get off their self-centered butts and fight hard bor barack and the party.
we are watching...closely.
rich rollison
nyc voter

[NickNas]

If Hillary had WON this would read "THE FIGHT TO REGAIN THE WHITEHOUSE"

Bill is showing his true colors. He prays every night that Obama will lose so HE has another chance in '12

Crybaby.

[Grissom1001]

Bill needs to be doing something. His reputation has suffered to the point that unless he really does something great, and this would be a good nod towards that end, he will go down in history for ALL the horrid things he has said and done. There are many to pick from.
It's time he started making better choices.

[botboy]

Any chance he is working on these sorts of measures (like he always has) because he finds the work rewarding and thinks its a good cause?

[Egalitare]

This is certainly a challenge worthy of his intellect and energy.

[NickNas]

Sure there is a good chance of that ...my point is would it be where he threw all of his energy NOW? If Hillary was the candidate... I think NO. This and ALL humanitarian work is very much needed but it is his focus on this NOW when we know it would not be there if he had a chance to move back into the Whitehouse. It is a Team work thing..he has never been good at it.

[Seankelly]

Clinton and Mandela have worked closely on these issues since Clinton left the White House and his foundation is respected all over the world - it's a shame that some Obama supporters treat Bill Clinton with such disrespect but it's no surprise.

[Midnightrain]

Did you miss the fact that his foundation is going to market the drugs? It's called kick back, my dear.

[SKonnery]

Your name indicates you have been in the dark too long.

[liberalnfree]

Yeah! Like that Doctors Without Borders Scam! You know those doctors only treat impoverished people in war zones to squeeze them of their last cent! They are pure evil without any redeeming characteristics whatsoever. I know because I'm a person who comments about things on Huffington Post.

[MsBrina]

Exactly, Midnightrain.

80% of that $109 million is from kick backs. And, lets not even start of the undisclosed foundation donors.

I was one of the Clinton's biggest supporters, until this past primary season. I now see the Clinton's and many in the democratic party for who and what they are.

[pupbayer]

All they care about is their candidate. They have to try to tear down someone else just to make Obama look better. It's not a surprise. It's pretty classic behavior for teenagers.

[ebm]

Like the kind of respect he showed his wife Monica and all the other ladies? The kind of respect when he lied to America about it all.

Mr & Mrs are in it for the power and money

[nuglet304]

at least they're in it, and they're getting things done. get over yourself. why don't you go q-tip around in that brain of yours a little longer and see how many more idiotic comments you can come up with.

[messy]

So Clinton is going to start a program to oppress all those innocent misquitoes, eh? Where's PeTA when we need them?

[pupbayer]

It's really nice seeing past Presidents using their abilities and reputations for good. I'm proud of Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

[messy]

So he's going to work to oppress those innocent misquitoes, eh? For Shame!!!! PeTA must be called to action, NOW!!1

[GolfingDevil05]

If this is the kind of work we can expect from President Clinton over the next 4-8 years, I think it would go a long way toward reducing any fears about him meddling with an Obama administration which includes Hillary Clinton as Vice President.

This is the kind of work that former presidents SHOULD do.

[Jey]

I've lost a lot of respect for Bill but I'm glad to see he's fighting for this issue. We need more people like this to do this kind of work. Politically he's a different person. But for reaching out and helping other people he's a star.

[aubrey8]

they're all different politically.

[Gma11]

I do hope he can regain his dignity. This is where he belongs now.

[hip dibler]

bill and brett farve seem to have alot in common. both can't keep thier face out of the limelight and do so in spite of the harm it causes others they 'allegedly' support.

GO AWAY.

[Bill3rdterm]

LOL, what type of moronic BS is that? So you don't think Helping save lives is a good cause? You'd rather Bill not help with such things, just so mental midgets like you dont' get into a tissy because you think he's taking the spot light away from your messiah?

[MelDel7365]

You would think that the voters in this country (particularly those who struggle to make ends meet) would see that the former Republican presidents (and Vice-Presidents) retire and live lavishly off of their backs (my bet is that W. and Chaney will be no different -- these high gas prices and the war profiteering corporations enriched by the Iraq war will be a boon for them) While the Dems retire and continue to try to help those who are less fortunate.

Why do the Republicans continue to have the ability to lie to everyone about their intentions -- and voters continue to fall for it -- time and again....Logically, McCain should not be anywhere NEAR Obama in the polls.

[shel3364]

I like to see people use their "celebrity" (that may be a poor choice of words) to really make a difference in the world. He can really bring a lot of attention to it.

Just like the guy who climbed the building a few weeks ago. Bill won't go that far, I hope.

[ebm]

If he can make a buck doing it he will

[Bill3rdterm]

He can make a buck doing anything.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Shameful how many of you SNARKERS below would rather focus on Clinton than innocent children.

Fercrissakes.

[Seankelly]

Bill Clinton through his foundation and his work with Nelson Mandela is making a real difference in some of the poorest areas in the world. He makes real changes on HIV, environmental issues unlike the current DEM nominee - who has done nothing.