Product announcement: One-pill-a-day , Viraday

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Press Release

Breakthrough one-pill-a-day, HIV treatment is here from Cipla

This is possibly the brightest news since the scourge of HIV/AIDS

began spreading its darkness across the world in the late 1980s.

Cipla announces the launch of Viraday, a breakthrough combination of

anti-HIV drugs in a single pill, which can be taken just once a day.

Viraday is a combination of three anti-HIV drugs: Efavirenz 600 mg,

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate 300 mg and Emtricitabine 200 mg. Cipla

is the first company to manufacture all the three active ingredients

indigenously, and the first to make the formulation in India.

Cipla's achievement is remarkable in terms of speed – the

combination became available in the international market just a few

weeks ago; and in terms of cost – Cipla offers Viraday at retail

price of Rs. 5,200 a month, a fraction of the wholesale

international price of approximately US$ 1,100 (approximately Rs.

52,800) a month.

The medical fraternity has waited a long time for such a

breakthrough. It gives a big boost to dosage adherence and makes it

easier for patients to comply with drug regimentation as advised by

the doctor. This is a vital issue in HIV treatment. If patients do

not correctly adhere to treatment it can result in lowering the

immune system and also developing resistance to the drugs used.

The number of medicines, the number of times in a day they have to

be taken, and their side effects – all these affect adherence. On

all these counts, Viraday is very patient-friendly.

Just one pill a day and freedom from the side effects and resistance

to some other anti-HIV drugs.

Cipla has been a forerunner in harnessing its R & D efforts to

reduce the " pill burden " for patients on anti-HIV treatment. The

company was the first to introduce innovative treatment kits and the

three-in-one (twice a day) pills that have gone a long way to

promote adherence and ease of use.

Viraday with its convenient one-pill-a-day dosage and accessibility

is Cipla's most significant achievement yet.

Cipla has repeatedly reduced the prices of various anti-HIV drugs in

recent years, and has been at the forefront of initiatives to make

them available at affordable prices for patients in more than 130

countries. " In our own way, we make living easier for those affected

by HIV, regardless of their circumstances, " said a Cipla

spokesperson. " Viraday is another milestone achievement in our

mission, that none should be denied. "

Other breakthrough anti-HIV drugs are in Cipla's pipeline as well.

Dr Y K Hamied

Chairman and Managing Director

Cipla Ltd.

Mumbai Central

Mumbai 400 008

Tel : 91 22 23082891, 23095521

Tel : (Dir) : 91 22 23070201

Fax : 91 22 2309 3505, 23070013

Mob: + 91 9820298765

Mob (UK) : + 44 7979 690690

e-mail: corporate@...