As part of President Bush's global AIDS relief plan, the US FDA has issued a tentative approval to generic abacavir sulfate tablets, a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Ziagen, an anti-HIV medication. Abacavir belongs to a class of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and is used in combination with other antiretroviral agents to inhibit HIV replication.

The drug, manufactured by India-based Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., will now be available for consideration for purchase under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

[Photo: Ziagen tablet, from CORE Center]