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Our Bureau

New Delhi, Sept. 23 Ranbaxy Laboratories has said that all its medicines, including the AIDS drugs supplied to African countries under US government supported programmes, are safe and effective.

The clarification comes in the wake of the US Congress Committee on Energy and Commerce’s demand to expand the probe on the Indian drug maker to include medicines that were supplied by the company to developing countries under US government funded programmes.

Until now the US drug regulator’s probe focussed on Ranbaxy’s products being sold within the US. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has blocked over 30 drugs being manufactured by Ranbaxy at its two plants in north India. But now four members of the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce have written to the Secretary of State, Ms Condoleezza Rice, seeking all details of medicines supplied by the company under a US government programme (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief - PEPFAR).

“Following the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement this week that it would partially restrict drug imports manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories at two of its India plants, leaders of the Committee on Energy and Commerce have expanded their inquiry into the FDA’s handling of the case to include drugs manufactured by the company for the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),” said a press release.

In response a company spokesperson said, “Ranbaxy is confident that all its pharmaceutical products are safe and effective, including the HIV/AIDS drugs it supplies to Africa through various aid programmes, including PEPFAR. Ranbaxy is committed to working with Chairman Dingell (Mr John D Dingell heads the Congressional Committee) and FDA to put these matters to rest and continue and expand its important place in providing safe and affordable medications to the US and global citizens.”

Meanwhile, government sources said that the Indian Government may step in if the US regulators do not revoke its order to block drugs made by Ranbaxy once the company adheres to all norms stipulated under US laws.

More Stories on : Pharmaceuticals | Standards & Benchmarks | Regulatory Bodies & Rulings | Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd

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