The Ministry of Health today received the first batch of the generic formulation of the antiretroviral drug Efavirenz, which is used more than any other medicine in the treatment of AIDS in Brazil. Approximately half of the Brazilian AIDS patients who receive free antiretroviral drugs from the government use it as part of their 'cocktail' of medicines.

The first batch of generic Efavirenz is from the Aurobindo laboratory in India. Brazil is due to import a total of eight batches by January 2008, four of which will be from the Indian company Ranbaxy.

The purchase of generic Efavirenz was made possible in May this year when President Lula decreed the compulsory licensing of the drug. The generic pills will cost only about a third as much as non-generic Efavirenz.

The pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme holds the patent for the drug, and will receive royalty payments of 1.5% from the Brazilian government.

Source: Agência Brasil and Embassy of Brazil in London