Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited has announced the launch of the next generation anti-retroviral (ARV) product, Abacavir, for the first time in India. The product, bioequivalent to the innovator brand, will be marketed in India under the brand name Virol as 300 mg tablet formulation, stated a company release.

Abacavir belongs to the class of ARVs called Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) and is prescribed in the dosage of 300 mg twice a day. The product will be used in combination with other ARVs such as NRTIs, protease inhibitors and/or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).

Abacavir-based regimens effectively reduce HIV RNA (viral load) in both treatment naive and treatment experienced patients and have the added advantage of sparing other classes of anti-retroviral drugs for subsequent use. Resistance to Abacavir develops relatively slowly. Virol used in combination with Virocomb (Lamivudine+Zidovudine combination from Ranbaxy), extends the clinical usefulness of current treatment options to a longer period.

Commenting on the launch, Malvinder Mohan Singh, regional director - India, RLL, said, "Virol further strengthens Ranbaxy's growing anti-HIV product portfolio. The product will be a useful tool for HIV specialists who are constantly looking for ways to counter the problem of drug resistance with ARVs".

Ranbaxy has always been at the forefront in addressing the healthcare needs by providing cost-effective and quality medicines. The company has been marketing a wide range of generic ARVs in several countries including India.

Presently Ranbaxy markets 10 ARV products in India and its basket of bio-equivalent generic ARVs includes Lamivudine, Lamivudine+Stavudine, Lamivudine+Zidovudine, Stavudine, Zidovudine and Didanosine, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Lamivudine+Nevirapine+Stavudine and Indinavir. Among them, Zidovudine 300 mg tablets, Nevirapine 200 mg tablets, Lamivudine 150 mg tablets and Lamivudine 150 + Zidovudine 300mg tablets are already on the WHO pre-qualified list of anti-AIDS drugs and few more are under review. Virol is a significant addition to Ranbaxy's anti-HIV portfolio which is already one of the most comprehensive in the world. These products will be manufactured at Ranbaxy's manufacturing facility at Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), the release stated.