ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) Philadelphia was founded in 1988 and remains a grassroots, non-violent, all-volunteer AIDS activist group based in Philadelphia, PA, US. ACT UP Philadelphia does not accept funding from the pharmaceutical industry or government.
ACT UP Philadelphia, as well as ACT UP Boston, Golden Gate, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Washington, are not affiliated with the group calling itself ACT UP San Francisco.
As active members of the HealthGAP (Global Access Project) Coalition, ACT UP Philadelphia has worked to challenge US government trade policies that have blocked access to essential medication in countries confronted with the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
ACT UP Philadelphia recognizes the overwhelming evidence that HIV causes the syndrome known as AIDS. We recognize that certain medications, including those that prevent and treat opportunistic infections, have been life-extending for millions of people living with HIV.
ACT UP Philadelphia recognizes the side effects and toxicities of current anti-HIV therapies, and call on industry and governments to conduct targeted research to fully understand these effects and to develop safer treatments that will be effective and tolerated for many years.
Further, ACT UP Philadelphia recognizes that these treatments are not a cure. In addition to calling for continuing research toward a cure for those infected with HIV, we call for increased, ethical research on microbicides to develop an effective and safe HIV-prevention method for women and men worldwide. We support increased, ethical research on a vaccine or vaccines that will be effective against all types of HIV.
ACT UP Philadelphia condemns pharmaceutical research, marketing, and pricing standards that hold profit above all other factors and limit access to, and knowledge of, the most effective use of anti-HIV therapies.
ACT UP Philadelphia calls for full access to essential medications for all preventable or treatable health conditions worldwide. | 
