[Ip-health] Ranbaxy launches generic abacavir

[Mike Palmedo]

http://www.ranbaxy.com/newsroom/pressrelease_det.asp?sno=3D99

RANBAXY LAUNCHES NEXT GENERATION ANTI-RETROVIRAL
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN INDIA

New Delhi, February 04, 2003

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited today announced the launch of the next
generation Anti-retroviral (ARV) product, ABACAVIR, for the first time
in India. The product, bioequivalent to the innovator brand*, will be
marketed in India under the brand name VIROL as 300 mg tablet
formulation.

Abacavir belongs to the class of ARVs called Nucleoside Reverse
Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) and is prescribed in the dosage of 300
mg twice a day. The product will be used in combination with other ARVs
such as NRTIs, protease inhibitors and/or non-nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Abacavir-based regimens effectively
reduce HIV RNA (viral load) in both treatment naive and treatment
experienced patients and have the added advantage of sparing other
classes of anti-retroviral drugs for subsequent use. Resistance to
Abacavir develops relatively slowly. Virol used in combination with
Virocomb (Lamivudine+Zidovudine combination from Ranbaxy), extends the
clinical usefulness of current treatment options to a longer period.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Malvinder Mohan Singh, Regional Director -
India, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, said "Virol further strengthens
Ranbaxy's growing anti-HIV product portfolio. The product will be a
useful tool for HIV specialists who are constantly looking for ways to
counter the problem of drug resistance with ARVs".

Ranbaxy has always been at the fore-front in addressing the healthcare
needs by providing cost-effective and quality medicines. The company has
been marketing a wide range of generic ARVs in several countries
including India. Presently Ranbaxy markets 10 ARV products in India and
its basket of bio-equivalent generic ARVs includes Lamivudine,
Lamivudine+Stavudine, Lamivudine+Zidovudine, Stavudine, Zidovudine and
Didanosine, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Lamivudine+Nevirapine+Stavudine and
Indinavir. Among them, Zidovudine 300 mg tablets, Nevirapine 200 mg
tablets, Lamivudine 150 mg tablets and Lamivudine 150 + Zidovudine 300mg
tablets are already on the WHO pre-qualified list of anti-AIDS drugs and
few more are under review. Virol is a significant addition to Ranbaxy's
anti-HIV portfolio which is already one of the most comprehensive in the
world. These products will be manufactured at Ranbaxy's manufacturing
facility at Dewas (Madhya Pradesh).

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, India=92s largest pharmaceutical company,
manufactures and markets branded generic pharmaceuticals and Active
Pharmaceutical Ingredients. Ranbaxy=92s continued focus on R&D has
resulted in several approvals in developed markets and significant
progress in New Drug Discovery Research. Ranbaxy's foray into Novel Drug
Delivery Systems has led to proprietary "platform technologies"
resulting in a number of products under development. The Company is
selling its products in over 70 countries and has an expanding
international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances,
ground operations in 25 countries and manufacturing operations in 7
countries.


* 'Ziagen' is registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline




--
Mike Palmedo
Consumer Project on Technology
T-202-387-8030
F-202-234-5176
mpalmedo@cptech.org