Now, US won't source AIDS drugs from Ranbaxy

[Guest guest]

Now, US won't source AIDS drugs from Ranbaxy

26 Sep, 2008, 0140 hrs IST, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: The US government will not source drugs under its global

AIDS drug supply programme from one of the Ranbaxy Laboratories

plants in India.

At present, the US government buys three AIDS drugs from Ranbaxy

under the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

programme for supply to patients globally, including several African

countries. In 2007, Ranbaxy sold AIDS drugs worth $9 million under

the PEPFAR.

" Funds cannot be used to support new orders, for the three Ranbaxy

drugs, Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine, manufactured at Poanta

Sahib (Himachal Pradesh) plant in India, said a news agency report

quoting an unnamed spokesperson of PEPFAR. Ranbaxy stocks closed at a

52-week low of Rs 296.20 at the BSE, down 4.7% from Wednesday's

close.

The US Food and Drug Administration on September 17 banned the import

of over 30 drugs manufactured at Ranbaxy's two plants in India citing

violations of US manufacturing standards. However, FDA said that it

has no evidence to prove that Ranbaxy's drugs were harmful or have

any adverse effects.

Ranbaxy reiterated that it is co-operating with the US authorities to

solve all regulatory issues. " Ranbaxy is confident that all its

pharmaceutical products are safe and effective, including the

HIV/AIDs drugs it supplies to Africa through various aid programmes,

including PEPFAR.

Ranbaxy is committed to working with chairman Dingell and FDA to put

these matters to rest and continue and expand its important place in

providing safe and affordable medications to US and global citizens, "

a company spokesperson said.

Last week, a four-member committee of the House of Energy and

Commerce said it is investigating the safety and effectiveness of

AIDS drugs supplied by Ranbaxy through the program.

It also wrote to US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice seeking

details about the government's communications about Ranbaxy and its

drugs provided under the government program.

In July, the US department of justice had alleged that the Indian

company fabricated data to supply drugs under the programme. Indian

companies have the highest number of approvals to supply drugs to the

US government under the programme

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/US_wont_source_Ra

nbaxy_drugs/articleshow/3528477.cms