Indian firms supplied over 80% of AIDS drugs in 2002-08

India is the pharmacy of the world all right, at least for AIDS drugs.
Indian generic manufacturers such as Cipla, Hetero Drugs, Matrix Labs and Aurobindo Pharma supply over 80% of AIDS medicines to developing countries, a recent study shows.

According to the study by the Journal of International AIDS Society, between 2002 and 2008, more than 4 million people with HIV/ AIDS in Congo, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and other developing and underdeveloped countries in Africa, Asia and South America were treated with low-cost medicines made by Indian drugmakers.

Indian firms supplied over 80% of total AIDS medicines in that period. Yet, as of 2008, Indian companies accounted for 65% of the total value ($463 million) of AIDS medicine purchases.

This was possible only due to the legal framework in India, which facilitated production and export of low-cost generic drugs, it says.
Generic medicines from India are much cheaper than those sold by the innovator companies (see table). No wonder, the demand for these is high internationally.

“Local production in several countries is weak and hence there is strong reliance on India made medicines,” says Giten Khwairakpam, programme coordinator, Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Network on HIV/AIDS.

“We get over 80% of our requirement for AIDS drugs from India,” says Leena Menghaney, project manager, India, campaign for access to essential medicines at international humanitarian aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres.

The study comes at a time when the World Health Organisation has introduced new recommendations for people living with HIV/AIDS to begin treatment earlier and to switch to newer medicines that are more robust and less toxic, but also much more expensive.

The study warns that the upcoming trade agreements India is negotiating with the European Union and Japan, which contain provisions for several patenting measures, can hamper production of low-cost generic medicines, thereby threatening access and affordability for patients across the globe.

Millions with HIV are able to lead a healthy life thanks to the antiretroviral drugs produced in India, points out Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul, coordinator, health consumer protection programme, Chulalongkom University in Thailand. “Hence, any provision in the bilateral agreements which India is negotiating, which can hamper early entry of generics, can affect patients not only in India, but also millions in the developing world.”