Adcock Ingram, South Africa?s largest pharmaceutical company, is set to start manufacturing antiretrovirals (ARVs) with immediate effect, following approval by the Medicines Control Council (MCC).
Says Dr. Jonathan Louw, MD: Adcock Ingram: ?As the largest South African pharmaceutical company, with our own manufacturing and development facilities, we are now able to tender for government?s ARV requirements and also to meet the needs of the private healthcare market.?
The MCC approval comes in the wake of the recent World Health Organisation (WHO) approval of the company?s Research & Development site, making the site one of few such accredited sites globally.
Adcock Ingram started the process of acquiring voluntary licenses for the ARVs in 2005 and over the next 23 months completed the development and registration thereof. The generic ARVs have all been developed in-house by a team of senior researchers. To date, three products have been approved, with a range of further products awaiting approval from the Medicines Control Council. The products will be manufactured at the company?s Wadeville factory and will be distributed within South Africa and neighbouring African countries.
According to Louw, there is a need in the local and Sub-Saharan market for another South African ARV manufacturer. Research suggests that between 1500 and 1700 new infections occur every day in South Africa and that more than 5.5 million South Africans are HIV positive. Says Louw, ?As a pharmaceutical company with the intellectual and manufacturing resources available, we are duty bound to ensure that we do what we can to ensure a supply of this much needed medication and that we keep the cost price to the minimum.?
Adds Louw, ?The public market is growing as the government?s rollout plan becomes more effective. Furthermore there is evidence of a shift towards increased generic use.
?We believe we are well placed to move into these markets, given our track record in providing quality, trusted generic medicines for more than 20 years.?
HIV treatment is not limited to ARVs solely. Adcock Ingram, through its extensive range of products covering all major therapeutic classes, contributes to the treatment of opportunistic infections that arise as a result of HIV and AIDS infections. Adcock Ingram, through its majority shareholding in The Scientific Group, also provides a range of rapid HIV diagnostic tests.
The issue of HIV and AIDS cannot be ignored and as a responsible corporate citizen Adcock Ingram, through Unite 4 Health, is committed to assisting those in need through reputable NGOs and structures. To this end, Adcock Ingram has assisted The Red Cross Children?s Hospital, The Soweto Hospice and several other organisations are currently short listed for funding. Says Louw: ?Legislation prohibits us from donating medicines. We therefore direct our CSI spend to worthy organisations where we can make a tangible and sustainable difference to uplifting healthcare for those who are disadvantaged.?