Australian school kids develop expensive HIV drug for pennies

Martin Shkreli, 33-year-old former CEO of drug companies Retrophin and Turing Pharmaceuticals, raised prices for a vital drug, called Daraprim, by 5000%.

He was much reviled in the press for making a drug vital to HIV-patients completely unaffordable.

Turing holds exclusive rights for distribution of Daraprim in the US; Turing's formulation cannot be re-engineered by a third person, without their permission.

The drug, Daraprim, was developed in 1953; it is no longer under patent and until recently was sold cheaply.

It's used for treating a rare but fatal parasitic infection caused by malaria and HIV and without which many patients would die.

The US follows a 'closed-distribution' system that makes it impossible for generic competitors to get enough 'Daraprim' to develop their own formulation.

School children at a Sydney school in Australia, have recreated an exorbitantly priced HIV drug, Daraprim, on a shoe string budget.

A US-based company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, was recently in the news for hiking prices of 'Daraprim' a vital drug for HIV patients from $13.5 per tablet to $750.

The students re-created this vital drug for a fraction of the cost.

Dr Williamson, a postdoctoral fellow, at the university's school of chemistry, was intrigued with the Shkreli and Daraprim controversy.

Williamson encouraged a group of year 11 students to re-create the drug in the school lab; the school, Sydney Grammar, provided the equipment, chemicals and had the facilities.

The students' work was open-source and scientists from across the world could guide and mentor them.

According to Dr. Williamson, students spent $15 on materials needed and produced 3.7 grams of Daraprim, nearly $100,000 worth in the US market.

Two-weeks ago students had the drug tested; post-analysis it was determined to be "super-pure" and "A-grade".

Students that reverse-engineered the drug presented it at a prestigious symposium; they have posted an online-guide for anyone who wants to try making the drug.