Burroughs Wellcome Retrovir

Executive Summary

Temporary distribution system, set up initially to ensure that the limited supply of AZT would reach target population of AIDS and advanced ARC patients, will be discontinued ahead of schedule. At the time of the drug's approval in March, Burroughs Wellcome said it would dissolve the elaborate distribution system once the company had enough drug to meet demand. Last spring, B-W predicted supply levels would not reach enough for 30,000 patients until year end; however, the company now says it can treat 50,000 patients.