Ranbaxy,Gilead Sciences to manufacture and market three anti-HIV drugs in India, developing nations

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Gurgaon, July 12: Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy) announced today that it has entered into an in-licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. for three new HIV/AIDS drugs which are currently in late-stage clinical development.

Ranbaxy will have the rights to produce and sell generic versions of these drugs, under license, in India and other developing nations, after gaining necessary regulatory approvals.

As per the arrangement, Ranbaxy will extend its existing relationship with Gilead for anti-retrovirals and have the rights to manufacture and market generic equivalents of new products, Elvitegravir, an investigational integrase inhibitor, Cobicistat, an investigational antiretroviral boosting agent and Quad, which combines four Gilead HIV medicines in a once-daily, single-tablet regimen. Ranbaxy will receive complete technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process and will pay a royalty on sale of finished products.

Commenting on the agreement, Rajiv Gulati, President, Global Pharmaceutical Business, Ranbaxy, said, “We appreciate Gilead’s initiatives for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in the developing world, through partnerships. We are pleased to extend our partnership with Gilead for the in-licensed new anti-retrovirals (ARVs), that will enhance our capability to provide quality affordable medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in the developing countries.”

Ranbaxy partnered with Gilead in 2006 to market Tenofovir and Emtricitabine in India and many other developing nations, which are now important products in HIV therapy. Currently it is estimated that globally more than 1.6 Million patients are using Tenofovir based regime. Ranbaxy already produces Tenofovir 300 mg tablets and is a major supplier to the South African government for this drug.

Since 2001, Ranbaxy has been providing high quality, affordable, anti-retroviral drugs to needy patients particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries. Currently, more than 500,000 patients in over 60 countries across Africa, Latin America, CIS and Asia, benefit from the use of Ranbaxy’s ARV medicines. Ranbaxy is committed to supporting the global fight against HIV/AIDS through high quality, affordable medicines. (ANI)