China-made AIDS Drug on Sale

Home>>Sci-Edu

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 02, 2002

China-made AIDS Drug on Sale

Kedu, the first China-made drug for treating AIDS produced by Northeast China Pharmaceuticals Group Company, is a legal imitation of AZT, the most effective anti-AIDS drug licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The patent protection period of AZT in China expired at the end of last year.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Kedu, the first China-made drug for treating AIDS, went on sale in tablet and capsule forms across China on Sunday.

Kedu, produced by Northeast China Pharmaceuticals Group Company, is a legal imitation of AZT, the most effective anti-AIDS drug licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The patent protection period of AZT in China expired at the end of last year.

Kedu obtained a permit for domestic marketing from the State Drug Administration in early August. It put an end to the country's total reliance on imported AIDS medicines.

According to Zeng Yi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the number of AIDS patients and HIV carriers in China is 850,000.

Due to a reliance on imported AIDS drugs, patients and HIV carriers in China had to spend much more money in treating the disease each year than those in countries such as Thailand and Brazil.

Wu Hao, an AIDS consultant at You'an Hospital, Beijing, disclosed AIDS and HIV patients mostly received a cocktail treatment at his hospital for a monthly cost of 2,500 yuan (301 US dollars) to 3,000 yuan (361 US dollars).

Chen Gang, chairman of the Northeast China Pharmaceuticals Group Company, said he hoped Kedu could help bring down the annual pharmaceutical spending of AIDS patients and HIV carriers to below10,000 yuan (1,204 US dollars).

Questions?Comments? Click here

Cheaper Chinese-made AIDS Drug Available Next Month

Milestone Drug Makes Debut for Detecting HIV

>> Full Coverage

Highly Concerning China, US Plans to Deploy New Fighters in Guam ( 5 Messages)

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 3 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 14 Messages)

China's Exports Hit Record of US$56.2 Billion in July ( 96 Messages)

Old Chinese Beaten by NY Police, Triggers off Big Clash ( 47 Messages)