HIV Diagnoses Are Falling

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Sunday that it observed the total number of annual HIV diagnoses fell by 19 percent between 2005 and 2014.

The Washington Post covered the CDC's report, noting that men who have sex with other men still account for the largest proportion of HIV diagnoses. In 2014, a total of 26,612 HIV diagnoses were attributed to men who have sex with men – accounting for almost 67 percent of all cases reported.

The CDC saw the largest drop in HIV cases among women. In 2014, only 7,533 women were diagnosed with the disease, marking a 40 percent decrease from the 12,499 cases reported in 2005.

The report added that approximately 1.2 million people are living with the HIV virus.

Related Link: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Announces First Patient Dosed With Universal HIV Vaccine

Imprimis Manufactures A $1 HIV Pill

Martin Shkreli made national headlines when he raised the price of a potentially life-saving drug called Daraprim to $750 a pill from $13.50.

Shkreli's move prompted the attention of Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: ESRX), the largest manager of prescription drug benefits, to offer a $1 a capsule pill for the treatment of HIV through a partnership with Imprimis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IMMY).

"Leveraging our expertise to improve access and affordability to an important medication is the right thing to do for HIV patients and others who could benefit from a combination of pyrimethamine and leucovorin," Express Scripts' Chief Medical Officer Steve Miller said in a press release. "We believe we now have an extremely cost-effective way to provide access to a Daraprim alternative. We will share our solution with other payers to make sure all appropriate patients around the country have access to the treatment they need at the lowest possible price."

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