Activists will be picketing outside of Abbott Laboratories’ annual shareholders meeting in Abbott Park, Ill., Friday, April 23, at 8 a.m. The protesters are angry over a recent 400% jump in the price of one of the company’s AIDS drugs, Norvir.
Event organizers have arranged for two early-morning buses to transport participants to Abbott Laboratories. Buses will depart from 5500 N. Broadway (CTA Red Line—Bryn Mawr) and from 1224 S. Wabash, Jewel parking lot (CTA Green/Red/Orange-line at Roosevelt) at 6 a.m. Friday, April 23. Both buses will return to their loading locations no later than 11 a.m. The bus ride is free but RSVP is required. Call Brent Adams at (312) 427-2114 ext. 114 to reserve a seat.
Those driving from Chicago should take I-94 west (approximately 40 minutes) to the IL-137/Buckley Road exit and turn right onto IL-137/Buckley Road. Take another right onto IL-43/North Waukegan Road.
Representatives from Citizen Action/Illinois, the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition, and the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans have forged a partnership to organize the protest.
‘Abbott’s recent 400% price increase for its AIDS drug Norvir is one example of the ways the pharmaceutical giant is driving up the cost of life-saving drugs,’ organizers stated. ‘Norvir can help reduce the amount of HIV in the body when used as part of an anti-HIV drug combination. Similarly, the cost of Abbott’s Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid drug commonly used by seniors, has increased 10 times in a five-year period.’
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced plans to launch an investigation into Abbott’s decision to increase the price of Norvir. New York State’s attorney general is also looking into Abbott’s pricing practices.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a hearing last week related to the price increase.
www.atac-usa.org/Abbottpricehike.html.