Aurobindo, Hetero to launch new AIDS drugsThe Hindu 12th August 2001-2

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The Hindu 12th August 2001, New Delhi.

Auronindo, Hetero to launch new AIDS drugs

By Ramnath Subbu

MUMBAI, AUG. 11 Close on the heels of cipla's launch of the world's first triple

drug combination - Triomune earlier this week - the other players in the

acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) retrovirals segment -Hetero Drugs and

Aurobindo Pharma- have also announced new product launches.

Aurobindo Pharma is launching two products Efavirenz and Nelfinavir under the

brandnames of Virenz and Nelvex next week. " Nelfinavir is a non-nucleoside

reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and will be useful for those who are

unable to tolerate the popular NNRTI Nevirapine and Efavirenz is a protease

inhibitor for those unable to tolerate Indinavir. Both products are being

launched nationally next week. " said Mr. Srinivas Lanka, director, Aurobindo

Pharma.

Virenz and Nelvex are both priced at Rs. 40 per tablet and the recommended

dosage is three tablets of Virenz once a day and three tablets of Nelvex thrice

a day.

Hetero Drugs is launching Nelfinavir Mesylate which is a protease inhibitor

under the brand name of Nelfin next week. The product has been priced at Rs.

9,000 for a pack of 270 tablets. The company has also completed the dissolution

studies for Efavirenz, Ritonavir and Saquinavir Mesylate and will be launching

these products in the market soon.

Cipla's Triomune is a single bilayered tablet and reduces the pill burden for

HIV/ AIDS patients. The company also announced its paediatric formulation of

Nevirapine - Nevimune Suspension for mother-to-child (MTC) cases. The product

has been priced at Rs. 240 per 100 ml with daily dosage being the same as the

tablet form of 200 mg twice daily.

Today the triple drug 'cocktail' regimen typically consists of two nucleoside

reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in combination with either a protease

inhibitor (PI) or a non-nucleoside transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

The compounds Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Stavudine are NRTIs which form the

backbone of triple therapy. Either Zidovudine or Stavudine are used in

combination with Lamivudine.

Nevirapine belongs to NNRTI class of anti-retroviral drugs. These act by

inhibiting reverse transcriptase, which is essential for the multiplication of

the human immuno-deficiency virus. NNRTIs inhibit HIV-1 strain but are not

active against HIV-2 strain. Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Abacavir are protease

inhibitors (PI).

Dr. Jagdish Harsh

Assistant Director

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA)

161, Satya Niketan, Moti Bagh-II

New Delhi-110 021, INDIA

Phone: +91.11.611 1793-94; Fax: +91.11.410 7381

E-mail: fxbindia@...; Web: http://www.fxb.org/india.htm