71.   Like other countries in the group, Lebanon also lacks self-sufficiency in the production of medicines, relying heavily on expensive imported drugs.

72.   Many rich, developed nations subsidize the expensive AIDS drugs.

73.   Six sub-Saharan nations have already signed deals with leading drug companies that offer less expensive HIV drugs for Africa.

74.   The agreement clarified rules on when and how poor countries facing public health crises can override patents to get cheaper access to expensive Western drugs.

75.   Tests of AIDS vaccines have begun in many countries, and drug companies recently settled a case in South Africa that could lower the costs of expensive drugs.

76.   That is because the liver infection develops slowly and can now be treated only with expensive drugs that have potentially serious side effects and sometimes low rates of success.

77.   The law could give South Africa the power to import or produce cheaper, generic versions of patented drugs, including expensive antiretroviral drugs needed to treat AIDS.

78.   The introduction of more expensive new drugs and strong demand by aging baby boomers are among the factors leading to the rise in drug costs, economists say.

79.   The proposed declaration gives developing countries more flexibility in overriding patents on expensive Western drugs when faced with public health crises like AIDS, tuberculosis and other pandemics.

80.   Traditional herbal medicine has been replaced by expensive imported chemical drugs.