Lamivudine (brand names: Yipingwei, Hepsera) is a core drug for the treatment of AIDS in China and also an important drug for fighting hepatitis B virus. However, due to the monopoly of this drug by GlaxoSmithKline UK, the producer of the drug, improper protective measures taken by relevant departments in China regarding this drug, and failure to take measures conducive to domestic production, since the second half of 2007, some parts of the country have experienced a tight supply of lamivudine, which has endangered the lives of patients and also constituted a major public health crisis.
The price of lamivudine is very high (approximately 14 yuan per tablet), imposing a heavy economic burden on China's large population of hepatitis B carriers and causing a significant outflow of national wealth. Moreover, due to the economic burden, many patients are unable to afford the medication or sustain long-term use, leading to deterioration of their conditions and, in fact, resulting in a massive humanitarian disaster.