Cipla launches new AIDS drug

By Our Staff Correspondent

MUMBAI, AUG. 6. Cipla today launched a triple drug cocktail for HIV/AIDS under the brand name Triomune. Triomune is a combination of three antiretroviral drugs - Stavudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine.

The company has priced Triomune at Rs. 1,800 per month. The product is a single bi-layered formulation and would reduce the pill burden for HIV/AIDS patients from six to two tablets, according to a company release. This, according to the company, represents a 5-6 fold reduction in the cost of therapy per month.

Cipla is also making available a paediatric formulation of nevirapine called Nevimune Suspension. This together with the paediatric fomulations of Zidovudine and Lamivudine should considerably help treat HIV disease in children. Cipla first launched Zidovir, an anti-retroviral in 1993 in the domestic market. Earlier this year, the company created a stir in the global anti-AIDS drugs market by offering a triple drug cocktail for as low as US $ 350 per patient per year.

The company has since been exporting the AIDS cocktail to several African countries. According to a company press release, the incidence of HIV/AIDS in India has reached alarming proportions and an estimated 3.7 million persons are reported to be suffering from the disease. Also alarming is the fact that while 15,000 new cases are reported every day, almost 95 per cent from developing countries like India. A disturbing facet is that 1,600 of these are children below the age of 15 and hence prevention of mother- to-child transmission of HIV infection assumes priority for countries like India.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Business
Previous : Early gains not held on BSE
Next     : Anti-depressant drug from Wockhardt