Christian Aid Partners Welcome Brazil's Stand Against US Drugs Giant

Christian Aid partners have launched a petition supporting the Brazilian government's decision to bypass the patent on an Aids drug produced by the US pharmaceutical giant, Merck.

Brazil has followed Thailand's lead in importing a much cheaper generic version of the drug Efavirenz after negotiations with Merck over a price reduction broke down.

Merck offered to price the pills at £0.56 which represents a thirty per cent discount. But Brazil argued it should be able to pay the same amount as Thailand which pays £0.33.