RANBAXY
WITHDRAWS AIDS DRUGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Ranbaxy Laboratories has withdrawn its AIDS drugs portfolio
from South Africa after concerns on quality were raised. This
effectively ends Ranbaxy's bid to participate in the multi-million
rand AIDS drugs tender of the South African government.
A Ranbaxy spokesperson
said, "We have just withdrawn the anti-retroviral (ARV)
range of drugs used for the treatment of AIDS, from South
Africa."
Ranbaxy recalled
the ARVs citing problems with clinical trials it conducted
to determine whether the drugs offered the same therapeutic
benefits as the originals. The development comes at a time
when the company plans to go in for fresh listing of ARVs
with the WHO.
In fact, the WHO
de-listing of Ranbaxy's three generic ARVs in early August
'04 had little impact on South Africa, which follows its own
regulatory system - Medicines Control Council. Moreover, only
one of the drugs in question - a combination of lamivudine
and zidovudine - was registered in South Africa.
But, Ranbaxy has
accepted that clinical studies have identified similar problems
with the entire ARV range - Lamaid, Nevran, Zidaid and Avocomb.
The company has asked health care professionals in South Africa
to return all batches of these drugs.
