U.S. government regulators have given tentative approval to a new drug-combination AIDS pill aimed at making treatment easier.
The tablet, made by a pharmaceutical company in India (Aurobindo Pharma), combines three active ingredients (lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine) already used separately in HIV treatment.
The new pill is being distributed in 15 nations as part of President Bush's $15 billion AIDS relief program. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the pill, taken twice daily, will make it easier for adults in the most affected nations to maintain their drug treatment regimen.
The tablet cannot be sold in the United States due to existing patents on the individual ingredients.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
