Two generic AIDS treatments by Indian manufacturer Cipla have been reinstated on the World Health Organization's recommended list, six months after they were removed for further testing.

WHO officials say that Lamivudine and Duovir, which combines lamivudine with zidovudine in one dose, have been important to the strategy to broaden treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in poor countries.

The life-extending drugs are back on the list of WHO-approved products, after fresh inspection proved they were equivalent to their patented counterparts.

A year ago the organization started a campaign to get life-extending drugs to 3 million people in the developing world by the end of 2005.

But, according to the latest figures, only 440,000 of the 6 million AIDS patients are receiving the drugs.

Some 50 anti-retroviral drugs -- both generic and patented -- are on WHO's list.

The list was set up two years ago to guide buying by agencies battling the epidemic in Africa and Asia.

(CRI December 1, 2004)