This something of an about face, but is likely designed to save face. And the move, which the drugmaker very quietly posted on its web site this weekend, came after tussling with the Student Global AIDS Campaign in recent days over the company’s intentions.

Here’s the backdrop: On July 20, Abbott announced plans to seek FDA and EU approval for a new, lower-strength Kaletra for pediatric use. The student group quickly fired off a press release condemning Abbott for failing to include Thai children. Remember, Abbott last March threatened not to register any new meds in Thailand after Bangkok issued a compulsory license for Kaletra (and two other meds sold by other drugmakers).

Abbott’s threat has been widely criticized, even by other drugmakers. Last week, for instance, Schering-Plough ceo Fred Hassan told Pharmalot: “That’s rather harsh. Why would you want to deprive people of new drugs?” Meanwhile, Act-Up Paris launched a cyber attack against Abbott’s web site, prompting Abbott to file a lawsuit the drugmaker later agreed to drop and the same student group created a web site of their own: abbottsgreed.com

But Abbott, which for months has tried to downplay the Thai controversy and refused to issue press releases about its actions, got defensive when the student group distributed its own press release, according to e-mails shown to Pharmalot by a representative for Student Global AIDS. An Abbott spokeswoman assured the group there were plans to register the new Kaletra version in Thailand and an announcement was delayed only because company reps were at an international AIDS conference. You can read the Abbott press release here.

Here’s what the student group in response: “We’re glad they have posted their intent to register it (thought it definitely could have come sooner and could be more visible)…We also obviously hope that they move as quickly as they can…What made them suddenly decide to register this pediatric formulation when their last public statement said that they would not seek any new registrations? Moreover, while this is a positive step in the right direction, their policies still mean that adults won’t have access to any heat stable Kaletra.”