Article
MCC [Medicines Control Council] stalls new Aids drugs [South Africa]
South Africans have been denied the “biggest advance” in antiretroviral therapy…because of a lack of urgency in the drug registration process…according to the Treatment Action Campaign [TAC]. The TAC is calling for the urgent registration of Tenofovir, which is considered one of the safest antiretro-viral (ARV) drugs…Tenofovir was submitted for registration to the [MCC] in 2005. More than a year later, there is no sign of a decision…The TAC is planning a campaign…against the MCC and…Aspen Pharmacare, which holds the South African licence for Tenofovir [because of the delay]…[An] Aspen chief executive…says…he is confident [Tenofovir] is being fast tracked in the registration process…The MCC said it could not answer many of the Mail & Guardian’s questions…