November 7, 2000

The Project Director
National AIDS Control Organisation
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Room No. A-344, Nirman Bhavan
New Delhi-110 011

Dear Sir,

Nevirapine, the first no nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, was introduced in India by Cipla in March this year. In addition to its proven efficacy in the combination treatment of HIV infection, studies have shown that a single dose of Nevirapine 200 mg administered to an HIV infected mother at the onset of labour and another dose given to the newborn (2mg/kg body weight) within the first 72 hours of birth can reduce HIV transmission from the mother to the child by as much as 50%. This has been suggested to be a cost effective strategy in many developing countries, for the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.

In this context, Cipla is pleased to offer Nevimune (Nevirapine tablets and suspension) for prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV infection to the Government of India at no cost for distribution within India to areas where HIV infection is prevalent among pregnant women. This supply of Nevimune will continue for 2 years from the time the distribution is taken up by the Government of India/National AIDS Control Organisation/UNICEF etc.

We therefore welcome a proposal and implementation programme from your side at the earliest.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,
For Cipla Limited

M.K. Hamied

Director