Ranbaxy's four HIV/AIDS drugs in WHO pre-qualification list

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Ranbaxy's four HIV/AIDS drugs in WHO pre-qualification list

New Delhi: India's biggest drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited

today said the World Health Organistion has included four of its

additional Anti Retro- Viral (ARV) products in its pre-qualification

list.

The products approved by WHO are Efavirenz 600mg tablets, Efavirenz

200mg capsules, Stavudine 30mg capsules, Stavudine 40mg capsules,

the company said in a statement.

" This is a significant development. We strongly feel that Generic

ARVs are essential in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and are

committed to providing high quality, cost effective generics, "

Ranbaxy CEO and MD Malvinder Mohan Singh said.

With these inclusions, Ranbaxy now has a total of 12 ARVs on the WHO

pre-qualification list. It also has three approvals from USFDA for

ARVs, making it eligible for supplying to the US funded PEPFAR

programme.

" Efavirenz is rapidly becoming a preferred drug in HIV treatment

programme in developing countries. The other newly listed drug,

Stavudine, is also being widely used as a first line of therapy

against AIDS. Both products increase customer choice enabling

patients to access therapy easily, at affordable prices, " Singh

added.

Ranbaxy has been providing ARVs at affordable prices to countries

and patients afflicted by HIV/AIDS since 2001.

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