Chennai NGO to produce low-cost HIV/AIDS generic drugs

[Guest guest]

CMSI launches low-cost HIV/AIDS generic drugs

Monday, November 07, 2005 08:00 IST

Gireesh Babu, Chennai

The Comprehensive Medical Services India (CMSI), an

essential drug manufacturing organization promoted by

Inter-Church Service Association, has introduced low

cost Zidovudine and Nevirapine tablets for HIV/AIDS

patients, eyeing charitable hospitals and other

healthcare organizations working in the field of

AIDS/HIV prevention and rehabilitation. Further, CMSI

is planning to launch another five cheap Anti Retro

Viral (ARV) drugs within a period of six months.

A 10-tablet strip of Zidovudine is priced only Rs 109

and a blister pack of Nevirapine, with 10 tablets is

priced only Rs 60. The drugs are intended to be

distributed through charitable hospitals and health

organizations, according to the officials of the

organization. Though these generic ARVs are priced

marginally lower than the same drugs available in the

market, the organization would further subsidize the

prices for deserving patients and social

organisations, said Dr. Moses Manohar, Director, CMSI.

He said CMSI would soon manufacture Lamivudine 150

mg., Efaravenz 600mg., a two-drug combination of

Lamivudine 150mg. and Zidovudine 300mg., a three-drug

combination of Lamivudine 150mg., Stavudine 30mg. and

Nevirapine 200mg., and another three-drug combination

of Lamivudine 150mg., Stavudine 40mg. and Nevirapine

200mg. At present, the organization has started works

for launching Lamivudine, Efaravenz as a two-drug

combination. These drugs would be launched within

three months and all the remaining five drugs within

six months, said Prem Kumar, General Manager, CMSI.

He said that the objective of the organization is to

distribute ARV drugs all over the country at a prize

marginally lesser than the prices of similar generic

drugs available in the market. The organization, which

is working on a 'no loss no profit' basis has been

involved in manufacture and distribution of essential

drugs to government hospitals, charitable hospitals

and non-governmental health organizations since 1988.

CMSI manufactures 65 essential drugs in the WHO list,

including drugs for Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Malaria,

Diabetics, Epilepsy etc. The factory with 22,000 sq.ft

built up area in a 4.4-acre plot at Manapakkam,

Chennai is being upgraded for GMP compliance with an

investment of Rs 70 lakhs.

http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=30205

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