Aurobindo, 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 bi-layered 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 the 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).

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