The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently named Indian generic drugs company Cipla Ltd., based in Mumbai, as an in-principle approved supplier for HIV-related medicines for procurement by UN agencies.

Cipla is the only generic drugs manufacturer to make it to the list while the rest are patent holders. Other global pharmaceutical giants figured in the list include GlaxoSmithKline, Laboratories Cinfa SA of Spain, Bristol Myers Squib of France, Abbott Laboratories, Roche, Doms Recoedati of France, Combino Pharm SL of Spain.

According to the list issued by WHO, Cipla has been pre-qualified for supply of ciprofloxacin, lamivudine, vinblastine sulphate, vincristine sulphate, nevirapine and zidovudine in various strengths.

However the list does not guarantee the procurement of the products from the suppliers mentioned.

Dr. Yusuf K. Hamied, chairman of Cipla, said, "I am delighted. This proves that we adhere to good manufacturing practices on a par with other companies. It says Cipla is kosher, so now the multinationals cannot throw at us what they have said, 'They are Indian, they are Third World, the quality might be iffy.'"

Cipla's maufacturing site at Kurkumbh has been approved for the manufacturing of ciprofloxacin and vinblastine sulphate, while its facility at Vikhroli in Mumbai has been approved for producing lamivudine, nevirapine and zidovudine.

WHO had initiated the project to assess the acceptability in principle of HIV/AIDS drugs for procurement by UN agencies. The assessment procedure was aimed at identifying products and suppliers of HIV/AIDS related drugs of acceptable quality and meeting WHO standards. The two-month components of the assessment process were dossier evaluation and manufacturing site inspections.