Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited plans to provide anti-AIDS medicines for treatment for 0.5 to one million patients suffering from AIDS in the coming 18-24 months, across the world.

Commenting on forthcoming occasion of Worlds AIDS Day on December 01, 2002, Dr. Brian W. Tempest, President, Pharmaceuticals, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited said, "Ranbaxy has always been at the forefront in addressing the healthcare needs by providing cost-effective and quality medicines. To address the growing menace of HIV around the world, Ranbaxy will pledge to serve a large part of the global demand of Anti-Retrovirals (ARVs)."

Ranbaxy has filed 300 registrations in 54 countries during the last 18 months. During the past one year alone, the Company has made around 100 registrations/marketing authorisations with products available in almost 20 countries. Six (10 Dosage Forms/approvals in all) anti-AIDS products have also been pre-qualified by WHO of which 4 are anti-retrovirals (ARVs), more than offered by any other generic company.

It has gained international recognition as a major player in the anti-AIDS segment by developing a range of generic anti-retrovirals (ARVs). They market its anti-AIDS range of products in several countries which include developing countries like Nigeria, Zambia, Vietnam, Burkina Faso and Myanmar.

In the Indian market, presently there are 10 products available. The Company has one of the largest range of bio-equivalent generic ARVs viz. didanosine, lamivudine, lamivudine + stavudine, lamivudine + zidovudine, stavudine, zidovudine, lamivudine+stavudine+nevirapine, indinavir, nevirapine, efavirenz .