Regarding 3-drug combo Viraday by Cipla

[Guest guest]

Dear forum,

This is a response on the recent press releases (pasted at the end of this

message) on the launch of the 3-drug combo Viraday by Cipla

(tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz).

While I'm very eager to see more affordable and better drugs available on the

Indian market, the press release makes the rather bold statement " The toxicity

of this combination drug has been found to be lower than the drugs taken

individually. "

Such data are not available for the original 3-drug combo (Atripla) that was

developed by Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and also don't make any scientific

sense, unless if Viraday has lower bioequivalence than the individual drugs (for

example, lower efavirenz levels would lead to a lower risk for toxicity but

higher risk for the emergence of resistance!).

The reason I'm wondering this, is because the first attempts of Gilead and BMS

to combine these 3 drugs had the problem of lower bioequivalence than the

individual drugs, but eventually they were able to solve it (which then became

the current Atripla tablet).

So in the best interest of the HIV-infected persons in India who may consider

taking Viraday, it would be highly recommended that Cipla can share the

fullbioequivalence data.

Regarding the price, once the generic companies that have recently

signed voluntary licenses (Cipla wasn't one of them) have started

their production of tenofovir and tenofovir/emtricitabine, the

combined price of the individual tablets should be cheaper than

Cipla's Viraday.

So my advice to HIV-infected persons is to be on the lookout for this, and not

necessarily indulge in Cipla's self-glorifying propaganda (as their primary

incentive is probably to make as much money as possible from Viraday in

meantime, before the other Indian generic drug companies have their product on

the market).

I hope this information helps PLHIV in India to make better informed decisions.

Best regards,

Koen Van Rompay

Sahaya International

e-mail: <kkvanrompay@...>

________________________________________

Easy medication for HIV/AIDS.[New Delhi] www.andhracafe.com, October 24, 2006.

http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show & id=11552

New Delhi: A valid combination of three HIV/AIDS drugs, Viraday has

been launched by Cipla which would help the HIV infected persons in

effectively treating the dreaded disease by taking just one tablet a

day.

Viraday is a combination of three anti-HIV drugs including efavirenz

600 mg, tenofovir 300 mg and emtricitabine 200mg.

A single tablet of Viraday could provide all the medicine required

for an HIV infected persons to deal with the viral load.

This treatment is not only less cumbersome but could be taken even

when the HIV infected person is taking medicine for tuberculosis

which is not the case otherwise.

Cipla became the first company to launch the combination drug in

India, with cost effectiveness..

This combination in drug was earlier available only in the United

States and European countries. However, the cost of this combination

therapy in the US and Europe is Rs 52,800 per month while Cipla has

made it available here at just Rs 5200 per month.

The toxicity of this combination drug has been found to be lower than the drugs

taken individually.

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