ATAZANAVIR/RITONAVIR (ATV/R)

Atazanavir/Ritonavir (ATV/r) is an ARV combination drug recommended by the WHO as a part of preferred secondline regimens to treat HIV in adults and adolescents, as part of an alternative 2ndline regimen for children, and as part of the preferred 2nd line regimen when there is an HBV coinfection. Major toxicity concerns include jaundice, nephrolithiasis, and electrocardiographic abnormalities. Atazanavir/ Ritonavir was first patented Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1998.

AMIKACIN (AMK)

Amikacin (Amk), an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is a second-line injectable agent recommended in the treatment of rifampicinresistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. It is proven effective against TB and has a moderate safety profile. Side effects include hearing loss and damage to the kidneys. A patent for Amk was issued to Bristol Myers Squibb in 1973.

DIDANOSINE (DDL)

Didanosine (ddl) is an ARV drug that is no longer recommended, and should be discontinued for use, by the WHO as an alternative medicine in 2nd-line regimens because of toxicity, low efficacy, and inconvenient dosing procedure. However, it can be added as a back-up drug while lacking procurement of more effective ARVs. Didanosine was developed by researchers in the National Cancer Institute(NCI). Due to limitations as a public agency, the NCI granted Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. exclusive rights to market didanosine.

STAVUDINE (D4T)

Stavudine (d4T) is an ARV drug that is no longer recommended for use by the WHO and should be discontinued as a part of HIV treatment regimens due to mitochondrial toxicity. It was first patented by Bristol Myers Squibb.