The Comprehensive Medical Services India (CMSI), an essential drug manufacturing organization promoted by Inter-Church Service Association, has introduced low cost Zidovudine and Nevirapine tablets for HIV/AIDS patients, eyeing charitable hospitals and other healthcare organizations working in the field of AIDS/HIV prevention and rehabilitation. Further, CMSI is planning to launch another five cheap Anti Retro Viral (ARV) drugs within a period of six months.

A 10-tablet strip of Zidovudine is priced only Rs 109 and a blister pack of Nevirapine, with 10 tablets is priced only Rs 60. The drugs are intended to be distributed through charitable hospitals and health organizations, according to the officials of the organization. Though these generic ARVs are priced marginally lower than the same drugs available in the market, the organization would further subsidize the prices for deserving patients and social organisations, said Dr. Moses Manohar, Director, CMSI.

He said CMSI would soon manufacture Lamivudine 150 mg., Efaravenz 600mg., a two-drug combination of Lamivudine 150mg. and Zidovudine 300mg., a three-drug combination of Lamivudine 150mg., Stavudine 30mg. and Nevirapine 200mg., and another three-drug combination of Lamivudine 150mg., Stavudine 40mg. and Nevirapine 200mg. At present, the organization has started works for launching Lamivudine, Efaravenz as a two-drug combination. These drugs would be launched within three months and all the remaining five drugs within six months, said Prem Kumar, General Manager, CMSI.

He said that the objective of the organization is to distribute ARV drugs all over the country at a prize marginally lesser than the prices of similar generic drugs available in the market. The organization, which is working on a 'no loss no profit' basis has been involved in manufacture and distribution of essential drugs to government hospitals, charitable hospitals and non-governmental health organizations since 1988.

CMSI manufactures 65 essential drugs in the WHO list, including drugs for Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Malaria, Diabetics, Epilepsy etc. The factory with 22,000 sq.ft built up area in a 4.4-acre plot at Manapakkam, Chennai is being upgraded for GMP compliance with an investment of Rs 70 lakhs.