to defuse the continuing row over drug access to aids-patients, uk-based GlaxoSmithKiline (gsk) has given a voluntary licence to South Africa based generic drug manufacturers, Aspen Pharmacare. Aspen will now manufacture cheaper versions of zidovudine (Retrovir-azt), lamivudine (Epivir-3 tc) and the zidovudine and lamivudine combination (Combivir).

Aspen will produce the drugs at a no-profit basis and the drugs cannot be exported out of the country. In return for the licence, the generic drug manufacturer does not have to give a royalty to the patent holders. Instead, it has agreed to give 30 per cent of its net profit to non governmental organizations in South Africa. Stephen Saad, Group ceo of Aspen Pharmacare says, "It is a privilege to have received these voluntary licences through which we would now be able to offer to the government more affordable anti-retrovirals for the South African population.'

This licence has further increased the hold of Aspen over the market as it already has similar licence from Bristol-Myers Squibb (didanosine and stavudine). But the success of the scheme will hinge on the response of the government