Mylan to offer affordable HIV/AIDS treatment

Mylan is slated to become the first drug maker to offer a new low-cost antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for individuals with AIDS.

The pharmaceutical company said it plans to file a new drug application for TLE400 with the Food and Drug Administration early next year. The drug contains tenofovir disoproxyl fumarate, lamivudine and a reduced dose of efavirenz.

TLE400, comprised of 400 mg of efavirenz, would become an alternative treatment for those intolerant to commonly prescribed drug combinations involving 600 mg.

The treatment would be available to HIV patients for a yearly cost of $99. The low-cost price has the potential to achieve abundant savings for AIDS programs dedicated to doubling the already 15 million people in developing countries who have access to ARV treatment.

With regards to the fight against HIV/AIDS, new guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that HIV-positive individuals should be treated with ARVs as soon as possible and those considered high-risk be provided with preventive therapy as well.

"Mylan applauds the new WHO guidelines, as we have long been an advocate for treatment soon after diagnosis to help ensure better health outcomes and reduce transmission," Mylan President Rajiv Malik said. "Mylan has a longstanding commitment of bringing to market innovative, high quality, affordable products to help satisfy the unmet needs of HIV/AIDS patients around the world."