Cipla launches four in one drug for HIV patients

MUMBAI: India’s second largest drug company Cipla has launched Qvir, a combination of four HIV drugs in one single strip that would be used for a single day’s treatment. The four drug kit contains Tenofovir and Emtricitabine and Atazanavir and Ritonavir. These drugs will be used for both first and second line treatment of HIV AIDS.

Cipla said by the end of 2010 close to 34 million people were living with HIV and that same year saw 2.7 million patients getting infected by the disease. “Every year about 5-10% of patients fail their first line treatment due to various reasons such as missing doses and the virus developing resistance”, said Cipla.

The company said since the tablets are in one strip, there won’t be a possibility of patients missing their dosage.

“While we are committed to making drugs affordable and accessible, we also endeavour to have more options for HIV infected patients which are potent, effective, patient-friendly and easy to take”, said Y.K.Hamied, Chairman and Managing Director, Cipla.