Under its UNITAID-funded projects, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) has named Matrix Laboratories Limited as the primary supplier of five antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs, which are used in the secondline treatment plans.

Moreover, the India-based unit of Mylan has also been selected as the main supplier of seven anti-retrovirals (ARVs) used for pediatric treatment.

Matrix's second-line products chosen for the 2009 UNITAID-CHAI projects comprise heat-stable Lopinavir/Ritonarvir.

Robert Coury, vice chairman and chief executive of Mylan, felicitated Unitaid and CHAI for making efforts to combat HIV/AIDS outbreak throughout the world.

Coury said, “Facilitating patient access to affordable, quality treatments has helped transform AIDS from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition.”

“Mylan and Matrix are proud to play an important role in these efforts.”

According to the UNAIDS, around 33 million people around the globe are suffering from HIV infection and over 90% of those live in developing nations.

The report also said that less than 4 million patients receive treatment.

GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, during the last week, declared that they have entered into an agreement to form a specialist company centering exclusively on the research and development of HIV medicines.