Indian drug companies lead the fight against AIDS

An interesting note from India's Business Standard newspaper: the U.S. president's emergency plan for AIDS relief (Pepfar) depends almost wholly on Indian pharma companies.

According to the report, out of the 100-odd proposals to manufacture retrovirals for use in developing countries that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a whopping 95 percent have come from Indian drug makers.

The Indians save the program a lot of money, thus saving more lives.

"It is estimated that FDA’s actions are allowing Pepfar to spend $150 million (Rs 690 crore) more each year on patient access to care,” the paper quoted a statement by U.S. FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg as saying.

But it also makes Indian companies a lot of dough.

Though the breakdown for each company isn't available, a top executive from Cipla says the company gets $20 to $25 million in revenue annually from the relief program.

http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/india/091015/indian-drug-companies-lead-the-fight-against-aids