Cheap ARVs in India "win-win" for pharma

The UK's Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, claims that a program to provide technical support to Indian drugmakers for the production and licensing of new treatments for HIV/AIDS and malaria offers a "win-win" situation for the pharmaceutical industry and disease sufferers alike. Mr Alexander announced a donation of L9.0 million ($13.5 million) for the scheme, which will run from 2009 to 2012 and is designed to provide access to HIV/AIDS drugs for 11 million people.

The main partner in the scheme is the USA-based Clinton Foundation. Former US President Bill Clinton, its founder, said: "the efforts of the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative have enabled more than 70 countries around the world to have access to affordable prices for HIV/AIDS drugs and diagnostics - representing approximately 92% of people living with HIV globally."

In separate news, India and Egypt have signed five new economic agreements, including one on health and pharmaceuticals. Biotechnology was specified as one area of greater cooperation by India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.