title: Generic antiretroviral drugs in developing countries: friends or foes?
abstract: Although second-line generic antiretroviral drugs are of great value in developing countries, there are concerns regarding their quality. We studied a generic Lopinavir/ritonavir (200/50  mg; Arga-L, India) marketed in the Republic of Congo but not prequalified by WHO. Despite adequate quantitative and qualitative drug content, Arga-L had a bio-availablility of 10% compared with Kaletra. To avoid selection of drug-resistant HIV, rigorous pharmacological monitoring of generic drugs not prequalified by WHO must be a priority.
authors.affiliation: aHôpital FOCH, Suresnes, France bFrance Expertise Internationale, Paris, France cPharmaco-Toxicology Department, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zucman
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.forename: Jérome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gravisse
authors.forename: Svetlane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimi
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasse
authors.forename: Abdon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goudjo
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choquet
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peytavin
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003223:Congo; D003906:Developing Countries; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D061466:Lopinavir / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D061466:Lopinavir; D019438:Ritonavir