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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) - Brazil decided not to break the patent on a key AIDS drug after Abbott Laboratories agreed to significantly reduce the drug's price over the next six years, the Brazilian Health Ministry said Friday.
The Brazilian government and Abbott reached an agreement late Friday after 10 days of negotiations. The Health Ministry had warned it would start producing a cheaper, generic version of the anti-retroviral drug Kaletra unless the U.S. manufacturer sharply cut its price for the Brazilian market by midnight Thursday.
As part of the agreement, Brazil will also have access to Kaletra's new formula, which is expected to be released in two years, the health ministry said in a statement.
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