Date:04/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/07/04/stories/2005070401170500.htm

Back Aurobindo Pharma gets US approval for Efavirenz

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , July 3

AUROBINDO Pharma Ltd on Sunday announced that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for Efavirenz tablets, 600 mg, which it claims is the first generic approval given to it ahead of the rest of the industry.

Efavirenz is a key anti-retro viral (ARV) for AIDS therapy. This is the third ARV approval with the other products being Neviraphine and Lumivudine. Efavirenz represents a significant opportunity in Africa for Aurobindo under the PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief) programme. PEPFAR is a five-year programme backed by the US Government to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

According to a statement from Aurobindo, Efavirenz is internationally referred to as Susitva, which is manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb Co.