WHO Adds Three Ranbaxy Antiretrovirals to Prequalification List

Indian pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories on Monday announced that the World Health Organization has added three of its antiretroviral drugs to WHO's list of prequalified antiretrovirals, Reuters India reports (Reuters India, 9/10).

The drugs will be available in compliance kits, which are designed to enhance regimen adherence. Each pack contains two fixed-dose combination tablets of either lamivudine and zidovudine or lamivudine and stavudine, as well as a single tablet of efavirenz, according to a Ranbaxy statement. The kits will help physicians ensure that patients comply with treatment recommendations and reduce procurement and shipment costs. The lamivudine and zidovudine combination treatment, as well as the efavirenz formulation, are the first by any drug maker on WHO's prequalification list, according to Ranbaxy.

Ranbaxy CEO Malvinder Mohan Singh said the company is "committed to using [its] experience and technology in developing innovative products to make value-added generic" antiretrovirals to "improve compliance and reduce costs." Singh added that the company believes the approvals will "benefit patients immensely" (Ranbaxy statement, 9/10).

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