The business of HIV/AIDS.

摘要

For the first time in its 183 year history, this week's issue of The Lancet is black and white and (RED) all over. The journal also contains, rather unusually, advertisements for a Motorola mobile phone, an American Express card, and clothing by GAP. This is because The Lancet has joined (PRODUCT) RED, which was launched at the World Economic Forum earlier this year to provide additional money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This issue, devoted entirely to the predicament of HIV/ AIDS, coincides with the International AIDS Society meeting that will be held in Toronto, Aug 13-18; some of the papers included in the pages that follow will be presented at the conference.Bono and Bobby Shriver, who came up with the (PRODUCT) RED concept, have brought together an unusual range of bedfellows-American Express, Converse, GAP, Giorgio Armani, Motorola, and media partner MySpace. Each company has developed its own (RED) product and will donate a percentage of profits to support the Global Fund's activities against HIV/AIDS. (RED) has made dollar10 million in its first 4 months and the organisation hopes to convince many more companies to develop a (PRODUCT) RED item. The Lancet is taking part in this exciting initiative and is contributing dollar30 000 to (PRODUCT) RED in support of this important project. We hope that other medical and scientific journals and publishers will join this cause.