What, if anything, is being done to lower the cost of drugs such as antiretroviral therapy for AIDS victims?

Antiretroviral drugs (drugs that allow HIV patients to temporarily live a healthy and normal life) are supposedly expensive. It is said that of 30 million Africans living with HIV & AIDS, only 50,000 are currently being treated with ARV drugs.

Good question. I wish I had an answer, too. You're right about the cost of those meds -- $15,000-$30,000 for the average person living with the virus, per year. Most of the 1 million individuals in the US living with HIV/AIDS have access to meds, although not all. Countries like Brazil take the bull by the horns and distribute AIDS meds free to all citizens with the virus! But the worldwide solution? Other than taking to the streets, shutting down the xeaseless war machine, demanding change from our governments, and working for global change, we've got to do what we can through prevention work (CONDOMS!!!! CLEAN NEEDLES!!! or ABSTAIN IF YOU CAN!!!!) to stop the spread of a virus that could potentially bring about the end of the human race, and hope that Big Pharma sees the light and releases the patents. Maybe some of Warren Buffett's billions will be channeled in that direction. We can hope and send energy in that direction!