Indian ARVs are returned to WHO's arsenal of approved medicines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has returned seven ARVs manufactured by Indian drug companies to the approved list of medicines for use in developing countries. The WHO removed 3 of the generic or copied drugs from this list last year and 4 others were withdrawn by the companies after tests failed to prove that the ARVs were equivalent to those manufactured by European and US companies.

WHO also added 3 new drugs produced by the Indian company Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. The approval of these drugs allows them to be purchased and used by several international treatment programs and increases the options available to people in developing countries.