Kenya’s Universal Corporation has announced commercial production of ARVs and becomes the first to do so in the region.
Last year November, the company received permits from the World Health Organization to commercially manufacture the drugs and has a capacity of making one million tablets daily.
The Kiambu, Kikuyu based company has now the authorization to produce drugs that comply with international standards.
Among the initial order of ARV drugs by Universal are Lamividine, Zidovudine and Nevirapine.
Among the countries that have placed orders is Ivory Coast.
The local production of ARVs will lower the government spending in HIV/AIDs mitigation from the current spending of Sh 38 billion annually. Every patient spends around Sh1,800 monthly.