ZAMBIA TO IMPORT LOW-COST BRAZILIAN ARVS

The southern African state of Zambia is to import HIV/AIDS drugs from Brazil, according to that country's ambassador in the capital Lusaka.

The news follows the resolution of Brazil's compulsory licensing controversy and moves by a number of African countries to restrict imports of drugs supplied under the US PEPFAR initiative -- many of which are shipped from South Africa.

Brazil has expanded its own production in recent years, mainly due to its successful free treatment programme for 170,000 sufferers. Meanwhile, Brazil has also closed ARVs production technology and import deals with a number of sub-Saharan African countries, including landlocked Zambia's neighbour, Mozambique. The latter country also recently announced homegrown production of a new anti-malarial, with output expected to begin in November.