WHO ADDS RANBAXY ARVS TO PRE-QUALIFICATION LIST

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added two of India-based Ranbaxy's antiretroviral (ARV) products to its pre-qualification list. The products approved by the WHO are Efavirenz, in 600 mg tablets and 200mg capsules, and Stavudine, in 30 mg capsules and 40 mg capsules.

With these inclusions, Ranbaxy now has a total of 12 ARVs on the WHO pre-qualification list.

"This is a significant development," said Malvinder Mohan Singh, CEO of Ranbaxy. "Efavirenz is rapidly becoming a preferred drug in HIV treatment program in developing countries, [and] Stavudine, is also being widely used as a first-line therapy against AIDS. Both products increase customer choice enabling patients to access therapy easily."