Encouraging new drug development

BETHESDA, Md. - At its latest meeting last week, the National Task Force on AIDS Drug Development focused on incentives and disincentives for private investment and collaboration in drug discovery and development for HIV, AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.

Although the task force staff compiled a lengthy laundry list of potential incentives, panel members raised other issues, in particular third-party reimbursement for off-label use of therapies. Participants agreed that expansion of reimbursement for off-label indications would promote drug development...