Title: Analysis of generic antiretroviral formulations manufactured in India.

POPLINE Document Number: 194598

Author(s):

Ramachandran G
Perloff ES
von Moltke LL
Swaminathan S
Wanke CA

Source citation:

AIDS, 2004 Jul 2;18(10):1482-1484.

Abstract:

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has significantly modified the natural history of HIV infection, decreasing mortality and the incidence of opportunistic infections. However, 90% of infected individuals worldwide do not have access to these drugs, because their cost is too high for the developing countries that are most affected by the AIDS epidemic. India is a major producer of generic antiretroviral drugs that are widely used in developing countries because they are less expensive than those produced elsewhere. There have, however, been reports of generic medications, including antiretroviral agents, which contain little or no active ingredients. It is therefore important that generic antiretroviral medications be analysed for drug content. Data describing the integrity of these drugs are not publicly available except for a report by Penzak et al. on nevirapine. We analysed the content of six commonly used nucleoside and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors alone and in combination, from three Indian sources (Aurobindo Pharma, Ranbaxy and Cipla) and compared the values with proprietary medications manufactured in the United States. (excerpt)

Keywords:

India
Critique
Evaluation
HIV Positive Persons
Antiretroviral Drugs
Antiretroviral Therapy
Research and Development
Pricing
Delivery of Health Care
Quality Control
HIV Infections
AIDS Prevention
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Treatment
HIV
Technology
Economic Factors
Marketing
Health
Organization and Administration
AIDS