WHO adds two HIV/AIDS medicines to prequalified list

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that two HIV/AIDS medicines will be added to its list of prequalified products.

"The expansion in choice of the therapy these medicines will afford is particularly significant today, on World AIDS Day," the UN agency said in a statement.

The HIV/AIDS medicines are the antiretrovirals nevirapine, produced by Aurobindo, India, and lamivudine, produced by Aspen Pharmacare Ltd, South Africa.

There are now 70 antiretrovirals prequalified by WHO. Thirty-six of them are from generic manufacturers and 34 are from brand name suppliers.

"Choices are expanding and the more choice there is, the more competitive the prices. We are confident that before the end of the year there will be additional inclusions to the prequalified products list," said Hans Hogerzeil, who is in charge of Medicines Policy and Standards at WHO.

Source: Xinhua