[e-drug] ACT UP Phila re "ACT UP" San Francisco

[Asia.Russell[asia@CritPath.Org]]

E-drug: ACT UP Phila re "ACT UP" San Francisco
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ACT UP Philadelphia issues the following statement today to clarify our
complete lack of endorsement or support for recent communications from ACT
UP San Francisco and other AIDS denialists:
 
ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) Philadelphia was founded in 1988
and remains a grassroots, non-violent, all-volunteer AIDS activist group
based in Philadelphia, PA, US.
 
ACT UP Philadelphia, as well as ACT UP Boston, Golden Gate, New York,
Paris, Los Angeles, and Washington, are not affiliated with the group
calling itself ACT UP San Francisco.  
 
As active members of the HealthGAP (Global Access Project) Coalition, ACT
UP Philadelphia has worked to challenge US government trade policies that
have blocked access to essential medication in countries confronted with
the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
 
ACT UP Philadelphia recognizes the overwhelming evidence that HIV causes
the syndrome known as AIDS.  We recognize that certain medications,
including those that prevent and treat opportunistic infections,  have been
life-extending for millions of people living with HIV. 

ACT UP Philadelphia recognizes the side effects and toxicities of current
anti-HIV therapies, and call on industry and governments to conduct
targeted research to fully understand these effects and to develop safer
treatments that will be effective and tolerated for many years.

Further, ACT UP Philadelphia recognizes that these treatments are not a
cure.  In addition to calling for continuing research toward a cure for
those infected with HIV, we call for increased, ethical research on
microbicides to develop an effective and safe HIV-prevention method for
women and men worldwide. We support increased, ethical research on a
vaccine or vaccines that will be effective against all types of HIV.

ACT UP Philadelphia condemns pharmaceutical research, marketing, and
pricing standards that hold profit above all other factors and limit access
to, and knowledge of, the most effective use of anti-HIV therapies. 

ACT UP Philadelphia calls for full access to essential medications for all
preventable or treatable health conditions worldwide.
 

Asia Russell
ACT UP Philadelphia
asia@critpath.org
(215) 731-1844
(215) 731-1845 fax
asia@CritPath.Org

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