Cheaper HIV drugs offered to South Africa as patent deal is signed

The Geneva-based Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) on Thursday announced new generic manufacturing licences for four anti-retrovirals and a hepatitis C drug.

“These new sub-licences will secure greater volumes of low-cost medicines for people living with HIV and hepatitis C in low- and middle-income countries‚” said Greg Perry‚ MPP’s Executive Director. “We look forward to working with the companies to speed delivery of these treatments to those most in need of better medical options.”

The MPP is a United Nations-backed public health organisation. MPP’s long-time generic partner Aurobindo signed two new sub-licences.

The first allows the company to produce lopinavir and ritonavir for Africa. The organisation also signed licences with Aurobindo‚ Desano‚ Emcure‚ Hetero Labs‚ Laurus Labs‚ Lupin and new partner Zydus Cadila for a total of nine new sub-licensing agreements to produce generic versions of key World Health Organization-priority HIV and hepatitis C treatments.

Desano‚ a Chinese manufacturer based in Shanghai‚ and Emcure signed licences for lopinavir and ritonavir. “Desano welcomes the opportunity of supporting increased volumes of this crucial treatment for people living with HIV/Aids in Africa‚ and specifically for South Africa‚ which has the largest HIV treatment programme in the world‚” Tun Guo‚ Director and Company Secretary‚ commented.

The MPP’s 13 generic manufacturing partners are currently working on more than 60 projects to develop crucial treatments for both children and adults in developing world settings.