Order Stuffs

In another setback to Ranbaxy, a US government supported programme for AIDS relief has decided to suspend procurement of anti-retrovirals from Ranbaxy, in the wake of US FDA’s decision to block over 30 medicines manufactured at its two plants in India.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) suspended funding for three Ranbaxy generic drugs, until issues pertaining to manufacturing deficiencies at its two manufacturing plants, raised by FDA have been resolved.

In fiscal year 2007, PEPFAR supported the procurement of $8.9 million worth antiretroviral drugs from Ranbaxy. When contacted, a Ranbaxy spokesperson said that the company had not been communicated the PEPFAR decision. The programme launched in 2003, and supported by US President, procures generic medicines from several companies and supplies them to 15 hard-hit countries across the world.

Ranbaxy has approvals to supply three AIDS medicines under the programme — Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Zidovudine. All the three drugs are part of 30 drugs on which FDA has announced an ‘import alert’, manufactured at the two facilities.

Earlier there were reports that members of the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce had written to the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, levelling serious allegations over marketing applications and production process of Ranbaxy and sought details of medicines supplied by the company under PEPFAR.

The programme targets three specific areas related to HIV/AIDS - Prevention of HIV transmission, treatment of AIDS and care, including palliative care for HIV infected-individuals, and care for orphans and vulnerable children.

Other domestic majors which are part of programme include Cipla, Aurobindo and Strides Arcolab.