Abbott, based in Chicago, has decided to sell no new medicines in Thailand, in retaliation for that country's producing generic versions of three lifesaving drugs.

It is the lifesaving drugs that have transformed his appearance like this, leaching the fat from his body even as they clear the virus from his blood.

We are closing schools and libraries in America, and withholding lifesaving drugs and medical treatment from the poor.

The grant of a patent on an important invention of a lifesaving drug represents a similar set of tradeoffs.

But what is a lifesaving drug?

To the Editor: I was glad to see that your editorial recognizes the high financial risks taken by the pharmaceutical companies as they search out new lifesaving drugs.

When Baycol, a cholesterol-lowering drug, was approved in 1997, it appeared to be a lifesaving drug with few side effects.

We take pride in our technology, with our lifesaving drugs and desktop computers.

Patented natural, recombinant and clot specific Streptokinase as a vital lifesaving drug.

How, for instance, do you ration a lifesaving drug?