PEPFAR were not the best drugs, but the worst ones. They were the drugs we weren’t using a lot in the US and Europe.
These included drugs like zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI), stavudine (d4T), Viramune (nevirapine) and Kaletra. These drugs required multiple doses a day, had side-effects, and even some serious toxicities. But they worked!
Even having access to these not so good drugs was life-saving. Some of the more toxic drugs have slowly been phased out and now, even premium drugs like dolutegravir are available in many countries.
So the actions of Presidents Bush and Clinton have been unparalleled in changing the dynamic of the epidemic, literally saving millions of lives and giving people hope throughout the world.
President Obama carried the baton, protecting President Bush’s PEPFAR legacy and expanding its support. He also