Indian drug major, Cipla, recently announced that it has received the USFDA approval for an innovative formulation of HIV medication-Lopinavir/ritonavir 40mg/10 mg oral pellets. The company said that the new drug can be used to treat infants suffering from HIV.
Cipla's chief medical officer, Mr Jaideep Gogtay, said in an interview to a news agency, "Lopinavir/Ritonavir is a preferred antiretroviral in pediatric patients and this unique drug delivery system (of oral pellets) is a breakthrough in pediatric-specific treatment for infants."
The company said that currently the drug can be launched in Africa and some other countries, but not in the US as it is patent covered. The drugmaker is in talks with the drug controller in India to obtain approval for the medication and launch it in India too.
According to a statement released by the company announcing the FDA approval, "globally 3.2 million children were living with HIV in 2013 and 240,000 children were newly infected with HIV (UNAIDS - The Gap Report 2014).
